I have been using a mobile phone since the early 2000s, but my journey with smartphones started with the Nokia 6600. Of course, it came preloaded with RealPlayer, a versatile media player that could run multiple audio and video file formats. It was like VLC of those times, and it was a perfect fit for desktops as well.
However, with the evolution of phones into smartphones and our transition into the cloud streaming era, RealPlayer seems to have vanished from the scene. If you thought that, then you’re wrong. RealPlayer is still alive and now has features that could give the best Android video players a run for their money.
The video player that tried its hand at everything
The first audio-streaming player, but it couldn’t capitalize on it
Back in 1995, RealNetworks, the company owned by Robert Denis Glaser, introduced RealAudio Player. It was the first PC music player that could stream audio over the internet. It was lightweight, fast (for those times), and had minimal buffering, allowing users to enjoy media without downloading it first. Every major online media powerhouse, including the BBC, CNN, and sports leagues, used RealNetworks to broadcast content.
In its later years, RealAudio Player received multiple upgrades, including additional features with the paid version. The company entered into agreements with major companies to deliver the best media experience and content on its platform. RealPlayer became so popular that by 2000, there were over 95 million users, and more than 85% of online media contentwas in the RealPlayer format.
Another thing that lured users to use RealPlayer was its interface. The early version of the player (1995-98) came with a Windows 95-ish interface and media controls inside a gray rectangular window. When the media was buffering, or there was an internet issue, the status bar would flash “Buffering” and “Net congestion.” However, from 2000 to 2010, the mess with RealPlayer really started.
The strategy to make RealPlayer an all-in-one player introduced bloatware and a cluttered UI. It got a full-blown web browser with news headlines, and it allowed users to burn CDs and manage them. It was during this time that RealPlayer introduced skins.
The real downfall started when RealPlayer incorporated relevant.exe, which introduced ad pop-ups, while realsched.exe was a scheduler process that ate the memory. It was also responsible for the spammy “Message Center” alerts that appeared on the bottom-right of the desktop. All of these activities made RealPlayer a mess, and people started leaving for better alternatives that respected their privacy and did one job: be a good media player.
RealPlayer and privacy did not go hand-in-hand
It was the privacy scandal that stopped its cruising boat
While RealPlayer’s downfall is often credited to its battle against Adobe Flash, its cruise ship started sinking when it failed to respect user privacy. In 1999, an independent security consultant, Richard Smith, found that RealJukebox was secretly assigning its users a Global Unique Identifier (GUID) and sending personal information, including what music they were listening to, back to RealNetworks. The New York Times was the first to break this news, and it created distrust among users as their personal data was being tracked and used without their consent.
Another nail in the coffin for RealPlayer was not the company’s fault, but Microsoft’s. RealPlayer sued Microsoft for anti-competitive practices, and the case was finally settled in 2005, after Microsoft paid RealNetworks $761 million.
Unfortunately, by the time Microsoft wrote the check to settle the dispute, they had already managed to lure millions of Windows users into using the Windows Media Player as the default player instead of RealPlayer. The habit change backfired on RealPlayer, and people lost interest in what it had to offer.
Adobe Flash and Windows Media Player emerged as the video players for users, and RealNetworks’ revenue hit rock bottom.
You get more than just a video player, but with paid versions
The current version of RealPlayer, which is version 25, comes with loads of features. For instance, you can download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram at the highest possible quality. You can even choose the language during download or playback. You are still asked whether you would like to install the Opera browser during RealPlayer installation.
RealPlayer lets you download videos in up to 8K resolution (only available with paid tiers), which is not possible with many media players or even online tools. The company has now gotten rid of ads and unnecessary intrusions. However, the free plan still has ads, and you have to shell out at least $25 to get rid of them. It comes with AI features that let you enhance thumbnails, cast videos with Chromecast, and organize videos by people and jump to specific scenes featuring the people you want.
The player also gets a live video recording feature. This allows users to capture live streams, concerts, or gaming sessions on YouTube without relying on third-party tools. In fact, RealPlayer is now available on Android and iOS, in addition to Windows, so you can sync videos across your devices.
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RealPlayer still holds up in 2025 and in 2026…hopefully
Not trying to be a streaming service, but an actual video player
RealPlayer is no longer the software that tried to be a streaming agent or a web browser. It, for good reasons, is focused on being a great video player. One killer feature is the ability to download videos from major video streaming platforms. RealPlayer lets you build a library of personalized video content. You get the freedom to watch your favorite content without the internet, or even after the video has been removed from a platform.
While it may have lost its crown as the default media player to Windows Media Player and now VLC, or lost the war to Netflix to become the streaming champion, RealPlayer still holds up and is surviving.
So, if you were wondering if RealPlayer was dead, you will be glad to know it’s still alive. It is now a mature media player that lets you download videos at the highest quality, record live video streams, cast videos directly, and much more. Want a solution for your video needs? Then, it may be time to welcome an old friend back to your desktop.
- OS
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Windows, Android, iOS
- Price
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Free and Paid
RealPlayer is a media player that is available for Windows, Android and iOS. It also lets you download videos from various streaming platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, etc.
