Our verdict: GOM Player plays most common formats and is good at finding subtitles, but the free version is ad-supported and the installer is very large. VLC, MPC-HC or PotPlayer do the same job with fewer distractions.
About GOM Player
GOM Player is a long-running video player from GOM & Company of South Korea. It ships with codecs for common formats such as AVI, MP4, MKV and WMV, and can search for an external codec when a file does not play.
The free player shows advertising. GOM Player Plus is the paid edition: it removes ads and adds features such as 4K playback and multi-view; AI subtitle generation and upscaling are sold separately as credits.
What it does well
- Built-in codecs. Plays AVI, MKV, MP4, MOV, WMV, FLV and other common formats without codec packs.
- Subtitle support. Reads SRT, SMI, ASS, VobSub and more, and can search for subtitles online.
- 360-degree VR mode. Rotates 360° videos with the mouse or keyboard.
- A-B repeat. Repeats one or several chosen sections of a video a set number of times.
- Skins. Several skins, including a touch-friendly one and a minimal one.
Who it is for
Good fit
Users who often need to find subtitles for foreign films and do not mind ads in a free player.
Look elsewhere
People who want an ad-free, lightweight or open-source player.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Plays most common formats out of the box
- Online subtitle search
- 360-degree VR playback
Cons
- Free version shows ads; removing them requires the paid GOM Player Plus
- Very large installer for a video player
- Closed source
How to install GOM Player
The Windows installer from gomlab.com is over 200 MB. Read every setup screen before clicking Next and untick any extra offers you do not want. After installing, check the preferences to turn off features you will not use.
Questions about GOM Player
Is GOM Player free?
Yes, but the free version is ad-supported. GOM Player Plus is a paid edition without ads.
Does GOM Player need codecs?
No for common formats; it includes its own codecs. For unusual formats it can search for an external codec.
Is GOM Player available for Mac?
Yes. GOM & Company offers a macOS version that supports macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later.
