At a glance
| MP95 | VLC | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Watch | Everything |
| Price model | Free on Android; free to start on Apple, Pro yearly or lifetime | Free, open source |
| Plays your own files | Yes | Yes |
| Formats | 35+ codecs, 49 file types | Very wide |
| FLAC / ALAC / WAV / AIFF | Yes | Yes |
| DSD (DSF, DFF) | Yes, to PCM | — |
| Imports from the Apple Music library | iPhone, iPad | — |
| Wi-Fi, cable, AirDrop, USB drive, NAS | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud drives and servers | Any Files-app provider, SAF folders | Wi-Fi upload, cloud services, SMB |
| Works offline with no account | Yes | Yes |
| No ads on any tier | Yes | Yes |
| Bit-perfect path | Yes | — |
| Output rate follows the file (USB DAC) | Yes | — |
| Gapless | Yes | — |
| ReplayGain | Track / album | — |
| Headphone crossfeed | bs2b, 3 presets, free | — |
| Equalizer | 5-band + 14 presets | Yes |
| Tag editor | Yes | — |
| Retro machines (cassette, vinyl, reel, wheel…) | Yes | No |
| Real analog tape / vinyl sound | Yes | No |
| 8D audio, slowed + reverb | Yes | — |
| Music visualizer | Yes | No |
| Flashlight follows the bass | Yes | — |
| Home screen widgets with transport | Yes | — |
| Apple Watch | Remote | No |
| Mac app | Yes | Yes |
“Partly” = exists with limits (a paid tier, an account, a narrower scope). “—” = not a listed feature, or one we could not confirm; it does not mean “no”. Other apps’ details are as of September 2026 and can change; check their store listings.
What VLC has that MP95 does not
VLC's niche is video and exotic containers. For a music collection it is a file list with a play button.
What MP95 has that it does not
MP95 is a music player: a real library with albums as objects, artists, folders, playlists, favourites and per-tab search; gapless playback with artwork on the machine; every import route (Music app library, Files, AirDrop, cable, USB, NAS); an EQ with presets; six machines with their own sound; 8D and slowed + reverb; visualizers; Room Light; widgets with transport keys; an Apple Watch remote; and no network access at all.
Which to pick
Keep VLC for video. Use MP95 for music.
Frequently asked questions
Do MP95 and VLC both play FLAC?
Yes. MP95 also plays DSD, APE, WavPack, Opus, WMA and 30 more codecs, and shows format, bitrate and sample rate on the machine.
Does MP95 need an account or internet?
No. MP95 has no network access, no account and no ads on any platform.
What is free in MP95?
On Android, everything. On iPhone, iPad and Mac, the cassette deck and turntable with the whole Hi-Fi path, every format and offline playback; MP95 Pro unlocks the other machines and the full sound desk.
Can I use MP95 and VLC together?
Yes. They read the same files.