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Entertainment · head to head

Pluto TV vs VLC

Pluto TV logo

Pluto TV

Entertainment

Stream movies, TV shows and clips for free

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VLC logo

VLC

Entertainment

The free and open source media player

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Pluto TV pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024); VLC vLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract
  • They diverge on capability: Pluto TV covers Live TV channels, VLC covers Media playback.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pluto TV and VLC actually diverge.

Attributes where Pluto TV and VLC differ
AttributePluto TVVLC
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWindows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Founded20131998

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Pluto TV

  • Live TV channels
  • Movies
  • TV shows
  • Recommendations
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account management
  • Parental controls

Only in VLC

  • Media playback
  • Codec support
  • Conversion
  • Plugins
  • Network streaming
  • DVD playback
  • Open source
  • Regular updates

Both cover

  • Streaming
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Pluto TV

  • Free streamingnot VLC
  • Live TVnot VLC
  • On-demand contentnot VLC

VLC

  • Media playbacknot Pluto TV
  • Video conversionnot Pluto TV

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Pluto TV

  • Pluto TV is entirely ad-supported free streaming with no paid tier, available in a stated list of regions including the US, Canada, Latin America, Brazil, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, UK, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden, Italy and Denmark (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)

VLC

  • VLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract

Pricing, plan by plan

Pluto TV

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full content
    • Live channels
    • Ad-supported

VLC

Free
  • FreeFree
    • All codecs
    • No ads
    • Open source

Which should you pick?

Choose Pluto TV if

  • You need live tv channels.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want movies.
Pluto TV review

Choose VLC if

  • You need media playback.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want codec support.
VLC review

Questions people ask

Is Pluto TV or VLC better?
Neither clearly leads. Pluto TV starts at Free and VLC at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pluto TV or VLC?
Pluto TV starts at Free and VLC at Free.
Does Pluto TV or VLC run on more platforms?
Pluto TV runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. VLC runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Pluto TV for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Pluto TV best used for?
Pluto TV is most often used for free streaming, live tv, on-demand content. Of those, free streaming and live tv are not what VLC is typically brought in for.
What can Pluto TV do that VLC cannot?
Pluto TV covers Live TV channels, Movies, TV shows, Recommendations. VLC covers Media playback, Codec support, Conversion, Plugins. Both handle Streaming, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

VLC: Is VLC media player free to use?

Yes. VLC is completely free and open source software with no subscription or licensing fees.

Source
VLC: Can VLC be used commercially?

Yes. VLC explicitly states there is no spyware, no ads, and no user tracking. As open-source software under permissive licenses, commercial use is permitted within each license's specific terms.

Source
VLC: Does VLC include all features across all platforms without additional purchase?

Yes. All playback features, codecs, cross-platform compatibility, and customization options are included with no additional purchases required for full functionality on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Source
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