MaxVault vs VLC
VLC is a free, open-source player that streams from network servers and supports advanced subtitles and Chromecast. MaxVault plays the same everyday formats, MKV, AVI, WMV and FLAC, inside a passcode-protected vault, with a Mini Player, a private browser for downloads and a video editor. Choose VLC to stream from a server; choose MaxVault to keep your media private.
At a glance
| Feature |  VLC |  MaxVault |
|---|---|---|
| Playback engine | VLC | VLCKit, the VLC engine |
| Plays MKV, AVI, WMV, FLAC without conversion | ||
| Subtitles | Advanced, including SSA | |
| Playback speed | ||
| Cast to a TV | Chromecast | AirPlay |
| Stream from SMB, FTP, UPnP/DLNA servers | ||
| Wi-Fi transfer from a computer | ||
| Cloud drives | Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, iCloud Drive | iCloud Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive |
| Mini Player while you browse | Not listed | |
| Passcode, Face ID and folder locks | Not listed | |
| Hide photos and videos from your camera roll | ||
| Video editor and photo editor | ||
| Open source |
VLC details are from its US App Store description, checked October 22, 2026. “Not listed” means it isn’t mentioned there.
Where they’re alike
Both play media with the same open-source VLC engine, so the everyday formats they open are the same.
Where VLC is stronger
- Network streaming from SMB, FTP, SFTP, NFS and UPnP/DLNA media servers.
- Advanced subtitles and multi-track audio, and Chromecast.
- Free and open source.
Where MaxVault is stronger
- Private by default. Your videos and music sit in a vault with its own passcode, Face ID and optional folder passwords.
- More than a player. Hide photos, edit videos, scan documents and browse privately in the same app.
- Download, then play. Save files from the private browser straight into a folder and play them there.
Which should you choose?
You stream from a home server or NAS, or need Chromecast and advanced subtitle styling.
You want to play MKV, AVI and FLAC files that stay private, alongside everything else you keep hidden.