FWD Video Player vs Video Player Block – play videos beautifully on any device

FWD Video Player is a powerful and unique responsive video player for WordPress and WooCommerce that can play local, self-hosted or streaming video and audio files, YouTube, Vimeo, Vimeo Pro, live streaming, HLS, DASH MPEG, 360 degree video / VR, Google Adsense, VAST and VMAP, and much more. It is designed for publishers, course creators, media websites, membership platforms, product pages, and any project that needs a professional HTML5 player with deep customization, monetization, analytics, and content-protection tools. Homepage | Demos | API | Support Main Features Core UVP Features Fully responsive and mobile/desktop optimized layout. Multiple display modes: responsive, fixed, sticky, fullscreen, lightbox, and popup. Multiple player instances on the same page with instance-aware playback behavior. Lazy loading on scroll, resume/remember playback, and URL timestamp start/stop. Deep playlist system with unlimited playlists and unlimited videos. Main playlists as dropdown selector or fullscreen playlist window. Playlist live search, auto-open playlists window, and customizable playlist layouts. Sources, Streaming, And Formats Self-hosted HTML5 media: MP4 video and MP3 audio. YouTube (single videos, playlists, channels). Vimeo and Vimeo Pro (single videos, albums, showcases). Apple HLS (.m3u8) live streaming with adaptive bitrate. HLS multiple quality levels and multiple audio tracks. MPEG-DASH (.mpd) live streaming. External/cloud sources including Google Drive, Amazon S3, Dropbox, and public media links. Playback, UX, And Interaction Multiple quality levels (720p, 1080p, 2160p+). Playback rate/speed selector and optional go fullscreen on play. Subtitles support (.txt, .srt, .vtt) with subtitle selector. Thumbnails preview via .vtt and live thumbnails preview. A-to-B loop, annotations, cuepoints, and custom right-click menu. Keyboard controls, embed/share window, info window, and watermark logo. Real-time audio spectrum visualizer for MP3. Chromecast support for compatible media playback. 360, VR, And Advanced Video 360 panoramic video support. Panoramic VR and stereoscopic playback with WebXR. Cardboard-compatible immersive VR support. Ads, Monetization, And Analytics Built-in pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ads. Popup ads and pause overlay ad window. VAST and VMAP support with advanced ad scheduling. Google IMA SDK and DFP/DoubleClick IMA tags support. Google Adsense and VPAID support. Google Analytics integration. Security, Access, And WordPress Integration Video source/path encryption. Private and password-protected videos. Playback only for logged-in users. Digital fingerprint stamp support. WooCommerce support. Shortcode generator and admin workflow for fast setup. Supported Use Cases Online courses, coaching libraries, and training portals. Membership and paid-content websites. Product demos, SaaS explainers, and marketing landing pages. WooCommerce product media and video-first product galleries. Live streaming pages using HLS and MPEG-DASH. Audio/podcast pages with visualizer and playlist support. Protected/private video portals for clients or internal teams. 360 and VR immersive media showcases. Shortcode Basic example: [fwduvp preset_id=”skin_minimal_dark” playlist_id=”main_playlist_1″ start_at_playlist=”0″ start_at_video=”0″] Common shortcode attributes: – preset_id: Required preset configuration ID. – playlist_id: Required main playlist ID/name created in the admin. – start_at_playlist: Optional start playlist index. – start_at_video: Optional start video index. External services This plugin uses the following third-party/external services: Google Analytics (Google Tag Manager script) – What it is used for: optional playback analytics/events. – When it is used: only if a Google Analytics Measurement ID is configured. – What data is sent: playback analytics event data. – Service provider: Google. – Terms of service: https://policies.google.com/terms – Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy YouTube Data API v3 – What it is used for: loading YouTube metadata for configured YouTube sources. – When it is used: when a YouTube source is configured. – What data is sent: configured YouTube identifiers and API key from browser requests. – Service provider: Google (YouTube). – Terms of service: https://www.youtube.com/t/terms – Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy YouTube IFrame Player API – What it is used for: embedded playback/control of YouTube videos. – When it is used: when current source is YouTube. – What data is sent: browser connections to YouTube player/video resources. – Service provider: Google (YouTube). – Terms of service: https://www.youtube.com/t/terms – Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy Vimeo Player API – What it is used for: embedded playback/control of Vimeo videos. – When it is used: when current source is Vimeo. – What data is sent: browser connections to Vimeo player/video resources. – Service provider: Vimeo. – Terms of service: https://vimeo.com/terms – Privacy policy: https://vimeo.com/privacy Google IMA SDK – What it is used for: ad delivery flows (IMA/DoubleClick/VAST/VMAP). – When it is used: when ad features that require IMA are enabled. – What data is sent: ad request/playback context data from browser. – Service provider: Google. – Terms of service: https://policies.google.com/terms – Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy Google Cast Sender SDK (Chromecast) – What it is used for: Chromecast sender support. – When it is used: when Chromecast feature is enabled and available. – What data is sent: cast session/media-cast data from browser/device. – Service provider: Google. – Terms of service: https://policies.google.com/terms – Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy Google Fonts API – What it is used for: loading Roboto font used by player styles. – When it is used: when plugin stylesheet is loaded. – What data is sent: font CSS/font file requests from browser. – Service provider: Google. – Terms of service: https://policies.google.com/terms – Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy Social sharing endpoints (Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Buffer, Reddit, Tumblr, Digg) – What it is used for: opening social share windows. – When it is used: when visitor clicks share buttons. – What data is sent: current page URL to selected sharing service. Video Tutorials Main WordPress setup and usage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtlBO7KJGi4 Installation (timestamped): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtlBO7KJGi4?t=1 WooCommerce setup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxAWCjNAKdQ 360 / VR workflow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL8oWo9UPGA Fingerprint stamp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ccWSz1Mr_0 Google Drive media setup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK3YucN2PYc Google Adsense setup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXsfBh74ho4 Global advertisement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz55uyF-Awk Thumbnails preview (.vtt): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqTNCPE1zYE Live thumbnails preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNhpC0dndAg Chromecast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_7x3pFSg24 YouTube API key: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whcjAjftBL0 Google Analytics integration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs_j1pWSbEY Open in lightbox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEqE31YReX8 Links Product page Live demos API examples Buy WordPress plugin Buy JavaScript version Contact and support Development This plugin’s full source code is publicly available for transparency and verification. Developed and maintained by FutureWebDesign. Source code and build tools – includes original uncompiled files and Vite build configuration. Distributed plugin uses a compiled build generated by Vite for optimal performance.

Give every video on your site a clean, responsive, fully customizable player – YouTube, Vimeo, or self-hosted MP4 – right inside the Gutenberg editor, no code required. Video Player Block | Pricing | Support | Documentation | Demo Why Video Player Block? Video Player Block is a lightweight WordPress video player plugin that lets you embed and play videos – YouTube, Vimeo, and self-hosted HTML5 (MP4, WebM, OGG) – in a clean, responsive, and customizable player directly inside the Gutenberg block editor. Whether you are showcasing self-hosted MP4s or embedding YouTube and Vimeo videos, this Gutenberg video player block delivers a highly customizable video experience without writing any code – perfect for video tutorials, online courses, product demos, marketing videos, and podcast video episodes. Beyond the standard HTML5 player, the Pro version unlocks industry-leading engines like React Video Player, Video.js, and Vidstack, plus a full suite of Pro blocks – Video Gallery, Playlist, Lightbox, Reels, Comparison, Testimonial Card, and Transcript – along with HLS & DASH streaming and external sources like Amazon S3, DigitalOcean Spaces, and BunnyCDN. Free Features Default HTML5 Video Player: A clean, lightweight, and responsive player for standard self-hosted MP4, WebM, and OGG formats. YouTube & Vimeo Native Support: Easily embed and play YouTube and Vimeo videos within the customizable player skin. Native Gutenberg Block: Add videos directly from the WordPress editor with a dedicated, easy-to-use block. Fully Responsive Design: Automatically adjusts the player for seamless viewing on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. Customizable Player Controls: Show or hide basic controls like play, volume, and fullscreen. Rewind & Fast-Forward Buttons: Toggle dedicated seek backward and seek forward buttons on the player. Player Restart Button: Add a dedicated button to easily restart the video from the beginning. Download Button Toggle: Enable or disable the video download option for your viewers. Picture-in-Picture & AirPlay: Toggle PiP and AirPlay options directly from the settings panel. Shortcode Generator: Generate and insert video players anywhere using shortcodes for maximum flexibility. Poster Image Selection: Choose custom video poster images directly from the WordPress media library. Autoplay & Mute Options: Control video behavior on page load with simple toggle settings. Lightweight & Fast: Built for performance so your pages stay fast and user-friendly. Unlimited Video Players: Add multiple players anywhere on your website without restrictions. Cross-Browser & iOS Friendly: Fully compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and mobile devices (iPhone/Android). Pro Version – Unlock Professional Video Power The Pro version adds advanced player engines, streaming support, and deep customization for professional video websites. Advanced player engines: React Video Player Engine: A cutting-edge player with complete customization based on React and Media Chrome. Video.js Player Support: Industry-standard, high-compatibility media player layouts for professional websites. Vidstack Player Engine: A premium, state-of-the-art player layout optimized for high performance. Pro video blocks: Video Gallery: Showcase multiple videos in grid, masonry, carousel, and bento layouts with category filters and an integrated lightbox player. Video Playlist: Pair a video player with a clickable episode queue featuring chapters, auto-advance, watched-state persistence, and Netflix/YouTube-style sequential viewing. Video Lightbox: Add a click-to-play trigger (thumbnail, button, or play-icon overlay) that opens any supported video in a responsive modal, deferring heavy player assets until the visitor opts in. Video Reels: Build a vertical, swipe-driven short-form video feed (TikTok / Instagram Reels / YouTube Shorts style) for any post, page, or template. Video Comparison: Reveal a draggable before/after slider that synchronously plays two videos side-by-side in real time. Video Testimonial Card: Create conversion-focused social-proof cards pairing a customer photo, attributed quote, star rating, and an inline-playable video clip. Video Transcript: Display a synchronized, clickable transcript alongside any video so viewers can jump to any moment and search engines can index the spoken content. Streaming, sources & styling: HLS (.m3u8) & DASH (.mpd) Streaming: Deliver high-quality, modern adaptive video efficiently. Mux Video Integration: Custom integration with Mux video servers for high-performance direct playback. External Video Sources: Amazon S3, DigitalOcean Spaces, BunnyCDN, and other external hosting services. Custom Aspect Ratios: Switch between 16:9, 4:3, 21:9, and custom dimensions. Glassmorphism UI Controls: Apply blur and glassmorphic styling effects to player control backdrops. Advanced Shadow & Borders: Custom player box shadows, border styles, and inner/outer border radius. Multiple Subtitle Support: Add multilingual subtitle tracks (VTT) for global accessibility. Playback Speed Control: Granular playback speed options (0.5x to 2.0x). Lazy Loading & Preloading: Defer video loading until visible in viewport to maximize Core Web Vitals. Google Cast & Chromecast: Wirelessly stream video from the browser player to any Chromecast-enabled TV. How to Use – Quick Start Install and activate the Video Player Block plugin. Open the Gutenberg editor and search for “Video Player Block”. Add the block to your post or page. Upload a video or paste a YouTube/Vimeo URL. Customize the player settings from the right sidebar. Publish the page and enjoy your responsive video player. For installation help, see the Installation tab. Live Demo | Upgrade to Pro Use Cases Video Tutorials & Online Courses: Deliver lessons in a clean, distraction-free player. Product Demos & Marketing Videos: Showcase products with poster images and custom controls. Educational & Membership Sites: Publish unlimited videos across your content. Portfolio & Media Websites: Present video work in a consistent, professional player. Podcast Video Episodes: Embed episode videos alongside your show notes. Did you like this plugin? Do you have a feature request? Please share your feedback with us. Check out the Parent Plugin of this plugin- B Blocks – A blocks collection and page building tool for Gutenberg. Check out our other WordPress Plugins- Html5 Video Player – Display videos as single and playlist in multiple skins. PDF Poster – Display/Embed PDF files with different styles. Html5 Audio Player – Listen audios with awesome visuals. StreamCast – Customizable radio player with different skins. 3D Viewer – Embed 3D models and 3D products with interaction. Advanced Post Block – Show posts and custom posts in different layouts. Shortcodes This plugin provides a shortcode to embed a saved Video Player anywhere in classic content, widgets, or page builders that do not support Gutenberg blocks. [video_player id="123"] Replace 123 with the ID of the Video Player post you have created via the Video Player custom post type menu. Source Code The non-minified source code for this plugin is available on our public repository: GitHub Repository Build Process This plugin uses a build process to generate the production assets (JS/CSS) located in the build/ directory. The human-readable source code is available in the src/ directory. To build the plugin from source: 1. Clone the repository: https://github.com/bPlugins/video-player-block-free 2. Install dependencies: npm install 3. Run the build command: npm run build Build Tools Used: Webpack, Babel, PostCSS. Third-Party Libraries This plugin uses the following third-party libraries: Plyr Source / GitHub: https://github.com/sampotts/plyr License: MIT – https://github.com/sampotts/plyr/blob/master/LICENSE.md Purpose: Media player control wrapper for YouTube, Vimeo, and self-hosted HTML5 video files. bpl-tools Source / GitHub: https://github.com/bPlugins/bpl-tools License: GPL-2.0-or-later – https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html Purpose: Shared utility library providing admin dashboard components and common Gutenberg editor controls. External Services: The library may connect to bPlugins, WordPress.org, and Freemius services for product data and checkout functionality. See full details: https://github.com/bPlugins/bpl-tools#external-requests–why-they-are-made As the external service functionality is handled by bpl-tools as a third-party library, the following services are utilized: bPlugins API Service URL: https://api.bplugins.com Purpose: The plugin’s admin dashboard fetches product comparison data and pricing information to display relevant upgrade options and feature details. Data Sent: Only the plugin slug is transmitted; no personal or site data is collected. Terms of Service: https://bplugins.com/terms-of-service/ Privacy Policy: https://bplugins.com/privacy-policy/ WordPress.org Plugins API Service URL: https://api.wordpress.org/plugins/info/1.2/ Purpose: The admin dashboard queries the official WordPress.org Plugins API to retrieve and display a curated list of other plugins by the same author (“Our Plugins” section). Data Sent: Plugin slugs and author name; no personal or site data is collected. Terms of Service: https://wordpress.org/about/tos/ Privacy Policy: https://wordpress.org/about/privacy/ Freemius Lite SDK Source: https://bplugins.com/ GitHub: https://github.com/bPlugins/freemius-lite-sdk License: GPL-2.0-or-later – https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html Purpose: Provides an opt-in consent form for usage tracking and analytics to help improve the plugin. No data is sent before explicit user consent. External Services: Communicates with api.bplugins.com (activation events) and wp.freemius.com (opt-in processing) only after user opt-in. See bPlugins Privacy Policy and Freemius Privacy Policy. Video Player Block by B Plugins Source: https://github.com/bPlugins/video-player-block-free License: GPL-2.0-or-later – https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html Purpose: A Gutenberg block for embedding and playing videos with support for YouTube, Vimeo, and self-hosted HTML5 video files. Includes customizable controls, responsiveness, and various playback options.