Best Region-Free Blu-ray Players 2024

While streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu are all the rage, if you want the best possible audio/visual experience from your home theatre, you’ll need a Blu-ray player. For hardcore cinephiles, sometimes a coveted DVD or Blu-ray release may be imported from a different country. Unfortunately, region codes could make it difficult to watch on a traditional DVD or Blu-ray player. But a multi-region player lets you watch physical media from around the world. Check out the best region-free Blu-ray player options on the market!

Best Region-free Blu-ray Player for Most Users – LG UBKM9

With its 4K UHD compatibility, the LG UBKM9 all-region Blu-ray player is a fantastic choice. It can handle any disc you throw at it with Blu-ray region A, B, and C support as well as DVD region 0 through 8 playback. There’s seamless conversion between PAL and NTSC. And as a 4K UHD Blu-ray player, the LG UBKM9 tackles 4K Ultra HD. There’s high dynamic range (HDR) implementation in the form of HDR, HDR10, and Dolby Vision. On the audio side, the UBKM9 pumps out Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, and DTS-HD Master Audio.

What’s more, LG outfits its multi-region DVD and Blu-ray player with Wi-Fi and Ethernet for smart streaming capabilities. You can stream Netflix in 4K on the UBKM9. With its 110, 220, and 230-volt compatibility, PAL, Secam, and NTSC are all supported. Decked out with 4K UHD video output, HDR10 and Dolby Vision, and the ability to read any region-coded Blu-ray or DVD, the LG UBKM9 is hands-down the best region-free Blu-ray player on the market. It’s not cheap clocking in at around $350 USD. Yet that’s about on par with most region-locked Blu-ray players.

If you don’t need 4K, the LG BP-350 slides in at about half the price. Streaming services are limited to Netflix and YouTube which is a bit disappointing. Granted, that’s more than many other Blu-ray players, and even if your physical media player can stream, you’re better off with a dedicated streaming set-top box such as a Roku, Apple TV, or Android TV device. Well specced and reasonably priced, the LG UBKM9 is the top 4K 3D region-free Blu-ray player for most users.

Pros:

• 4K UHD Blu-ray compatibility
• Blu-ray region A, B, and C support
• DVD region 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 playback
• 4K video upscaling
• HDR (HDR, HDR10, Dolby Vision)
• Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Atmos
• Streaming service support: Netflix, YouTube
• 3D Blu-ray support
• Dual HDMI outputs (one audio-only for connectivity with legacy audio receivers and soundbars)
• Wi-Fi and Ethernet

Cons:

• Limited streaming capabilities

Best 4K Region Free Blu-ray Player Overall in 2024 – Panasonic DP-UB9000P-K

The Panasonic DP-UB900P-K is an outstanding multi-region Blu-ray and DVD player. It’s capable of playing everything from DVDs and Blu-rays to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-rays. Panasonic’s UB9000P-K features exceptional build quality. It’s a high-end 4K region free Blu-ray player from build quality to performance. Whereas many Blu-ray players are comprised mostly of cheap plastic, the DP-UB9000 is constructed of aluminum. Its dual-layer chassis reduces noise and vibration, and the disc drive is mounted in the center with a steel plate for further vibration reduction.

Panasonic packs in its Hollywood Cinema Experience (HCX) image processing engine which includes an HDR (high dynamic range) optimizer. The HCX engine boasts improved tone mapping capabilities. There’s Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+ support. You’ll find a pair of HDMI outputs that allow you to pipe audio into a legacy soundbar or receiver. What’s more, the Panasonic DP-UB9000 sports an analog 7.1 multi-channel output for connecting to legacy audio components. Additionally, you’ll find balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA connections for stereo audio out.

While the DP-UB9000 is first and foremost a Blu-ray player, it does include limited streaming support for services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Unfortunately, you won’t find SACD or DVD-Audio support. And its price is pretty high. Still, the DP-UB9000 is the best region-free 4K player on the market.

Pros:

• 4K multi-region Blu-ray player
• HCX Hollywood Cinema Experience processing engine with improved HDR tone-mapping
• Support for 4K @ 60Hz
• Excellent connectivity: 2 x HDMI outputs, 2 x USB ports with support for up to 4TB hard drives, 7.1 analog audio outputs, balanced audio XLR output, RCA output, TOSLink optical audio output, Ethernet, Wi-Fi
• Aluminum construction – great build quality
• Centered disc drive to reduce vibration and noise
• Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG HDR support

Cons:

• Pricey
• Limited streaming service support
• Lacks DVD-Audio and SCAD compatibility

Best 4K Multi-region Blu-ray Player on a Budget – Sony UBP-X700

Sony’s X700 is a terrific 4K region-free Blu-ray player. The UBP-X700 handles 4K UHD Blu-ray discs, standard Blu-rays, and DVDs with aplomb. It’s got spectacular HDR support including Dolby Vision along with Dolby Atmos audio decoding. Streaming support is fairly decent with available apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify, Pandora, Hulu and YouTube.

A pair of HDMI outputs let you route audio to legacy audio receivers or soundbars. There’s a USB port, Ethernet jack, and coaxial digital port. Performance is great, delivering a wonderful audiovisual experience. Standard Blu-ray and DVD upconversion looks good, and 4K UHD Blu-rays discs are resplendent.

Unfortunately, 4K HDR streaming support is only available in the YouTube app. As such, if you want to enjoy content from Netflix or Amazon Prime Video in 4K, you’ll need a separate streaming device. With Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, solid streaming app support, and an affordable price tag, the Sony UBP-X700 is a good value 4K multi-region Blu-ray player. You might also consider the Sony UBP-X800 which adds SACD support.

Pros:

• 4K UHD region-free Blu-ray player
• 3D Blu-ray playback support
• Dolby Vision and HDR10 HDR standards
• Good connectivity: 2 x HDMI outputs (1 x audio-only HDMI), 1 x coaxial digital, 1 x Ethernet LAN, Wi-Fi
• Great streaming support (Netflix, Pandora, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube)
• Excellent audio handling – compatible with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and more codecs
• Affordable

Cons:

• Streaming app HDR support limited to YouTube

Best Region Free 3D Blu-ray player – iVid BD780

The iVid BD780 is an affordable multi-region Blu-ray player. With its NTSC to PAL 110-240 volts compatibility, the iVid BD780 is a great all-region disc player. You’ll find an onboard Ethernet jack and USB port. Aside from DVD regions 0 through 8 and Blu-ray regions A, B, and C, the BD780 can read both standard 2D and 3D Blu-rays. There’s support for uncompressed audio such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Moreover, the iVid BD780 rocks analog audio and video outputs such as composite and component outputs. If you’ve got an older television, monitor, or projector without an HDMI input, the iVid could be a solid pick-up.

Unfortunately, the iVid BD780 lacks 4K UHD support. And it doesn’t come equipped with certain features found on high-end or even mid-range Blu-ray players such as dual HDMI outputs for increased compatibility with legacy audio systems. Likewise, it’s not suitable for streaming from services such as Netflix or Hulu. Nevertheless, its affordability and range of connectivity options coupled with the ability to read DVDs and Blu-rays from around the globe makes the iVid BD780 an excellent multi-region Blu-ray player.

Pros:

• Affordable
• USB port
• Ethernet jack
• Blu-ray zone A, B, and C support
• DVD region 0-8 compatibility
• PAL/NTSC 110-240 Volt conversion
• 3D Blu-ray playback
• HDMI, component, and composite video outputs

Cons:

• No streaming support
• Lacks dual HDMI output
• Not a 4K UHD Blu-ray player

Best All-region Blu-ray Player with 4K Upconversion – Sony BDP-S6700

The Sony BDP-S6700 is a well-equipped all-region Blu-ray player. Although it’s not a 4K UHD Blu-ray player, the BDP-S6700 does upconvert standard Blu-rays to 4K. Thus, it’s a fantastic choice for budget-conscious 4K TV owners. Aside from region 0-8 DVDs and Blu-ray A, B, and C support, the BDP-S6700 maintains 3D Blu-ray compatibility. There’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth onboard, and superb connectivity with an HDMI output, coaxial audio out, Ethernet jack and USB input. You can play back SACD discs too.

As a streaming device, the BDP-S6700 falters, though that’s to be expected with virtually any Blu-ray player. A dedicated streaming box or smart TV delivers a drastically improved experience. For the price, you can get a 4K UHD Blu-ray player, albeit one that’s region-locked. You might also consider the 4K UHD region-free Sony UBP-X800M2. Alternatively, the non-4K upconverting Sony BDP-S3700 should be fine for watching international DVDs and Blu-rays If you need a multi-region Blu-ray player to connect to your 4K television or projector but don’t want to spring for a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, the Sony BDP-S6700 is a good option.

Pros:

• 4K upconversion (Blu-ray only), 1080p upconversion (DVD)
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet jack
• HDMI output, coaxial audio out
• Blu-ray A-C, DVD 0-8, SACD disc support
• 3D Blu-ray playback
• USB input
• PAL/NTSC 110-240 Volts conversion

Cons:

• Not great for streaming
• Doesn’t play 4K UHD Blu-rays

Best Region-free DVD Player – Panasonic DVD-S700EP-K

Because of their higher resolution, Blu-rays are superior to DVDs. Even a standard 1080p Blu-ray can arguably look better than a 4K stream from the likes of Netflix or Vudu since there’s increased color depth. As such, if you’re in the market for a multi-region player, Blu-ray is the way to go. However, if you just want something cheap to play region-locked DVDs, you might consider a region-free DVD player. The Panasonic DVD-S700EP-K is an awesome multi-region DVD player. It’s capable of tackling PAL and NTSC DVDs with its built-in 192kHz/24-bit audio D/A converter. While the DVD-S700EP-K can’t run Blu-rays, it does feature an HDMI output with 1080p upconversion. Aside from store-bought discs, the Panasonic DVD-S700EP-K handles DVD+/-R and DVD+/-RW discs, CDs, Xvid, SVCD, and MP3 CDs. Overall, it’s a barebones DVD player, but one with superb all-region support.

Pros:

• DVD regions 0-8 playback
• PAL/NTSC 110-240V conversion
• HDMI out with 1080p upconversion
• 192kHz/24-bit audio D/A conversion
• Affordable

Cons:

• Not a Blu-ray player
• Lacks streaming functionality

Best Budget Multi-region DVD Player – LONPOO LP-099

The LONPOO LP-099 all-region DVD Player is a budget-conscious solution for watching your region 0-8 DVDs. At under $40, it’s a complete steal. Even if you don’t need the multi-zone DVD playback feature, it’s worth picking up the LP-099 as a cheap DVD player. Packed into its ultra-compact form factor there’s an HDMI output with 1080p upconversion, component and composite video output, and a USB port for digital media playback. You’ll find PAL-NTSC conversion and progressive scan support. There’s even a mic input. Boasting tons of connectivity, there’s not much to dislike about the LONPOO LP-099 multi-region DVD player. The USB port sadly doesn’t support MP4, and you won’t find any streaming capabilities. For the price, you really can’t complain. If you’ve got a library of region-locked discs, the LONPOO LP-099 is one of the most affordable DVD players that plays all regions.

Pros:

• Affordable
• HDMI, composite, component outputs
• 1080p upconversion
• PAL/NTSC conversion
• USB port
• Mic input

Cons:

• No streaming support
• Not a Blu-ray player
• USB port doesn’t play MP4 videos

Blu-ray and DVD Region Codes – Understanding Region Codes

Typically, when you purchase a DVD or Blu-ray, that disc is locked to a specific geographic region. Blu-ray discs feature region codes indicated by letters specifying the zone where that disc is playable. Region A media includes North America, South America, U.S. territories, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and various regions of Southeast Asia.

Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand fall under Region B. Asia, with the exclusion of Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Southeast Asia is designated Region C. Then Region ABC is region-free and capable of playback in any region-locked Blu-ray player.

However, this only applies to standard Blu-ray discs. Ultra HD Blu-rays (UHD), are completely region-free. So any UHD Blu-ray will play just fine regardless of region. Often, 4K UHD Blu-rays come bundled with a standard Blu-ray. Most of these are multi-region, but some are restricted to a specific geographical location. And while 4K UHD discs might be unlocked, 4K Blu-ray players are largely still restricted to region codes.

Blu-ray Region Codes explained:

• Region A: North America, U.S. Territories, South America, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia
• Region B: Africa, Europe, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand
• Region C: Asia (not including Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Southeast Asia)
• Region ABC: Region-free or multi-region
• UHD Blu-rays: Region-free

Likewise, most DVDs are region-locked, and the codes are a bit different. Instead of a lettered coding system, DVD discs instead use numbers. Region 1 includes the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories. Europe, Japan, the Middle East, South Africa, and Greenland fall under Region 2.

East Asia and Southeast Asia comprise Region 3. Australia, New Zealand, Central America, Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands make up Region 4. Russia, Africa, North Korea, Mongolia, Eastern Europe, and the Indian Subcontinent are Region 5. China is Region 6, with Regions 7 and 8 as special codes. Region 0 or All is region-free.

• Region 1: Canada, the United States, and U.S. territories.
• Region 2: Japan, Europe, South Africa, the Middle East, and Greenland.
• Region 3: Southeast Asia and East Asia
• Region 4: Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean
• Region 5: Eastern Europe, Russia, the Indian Subcontinent, Africa, North Korea, and Mongolia
• Region 6: China
• Region 7: Reserved for unspecified special use
• Region 8: Special international venues for air and oceanic travel
• Region 0: or All: Region-free or multi-region

What is a Region Free Blu-Ray Player or DVD Player?

A multi-region Blu-ray Player or DVD Player can handle physical media regardless of its region code. Rather than buying only discs from your area, or all-region discs, you’ll be able to shop for DVDs and Blu-rays around the globe. This is particularly useful for cinephiles seeking to collect foreign variants of films and TV shows, or looking for a certain coveted release.

For instance, many Arrow Blu-rays are Region B, but an all-region Blu-ray player allows you to watch just fine. Frequent international travelers with a multi-region Blu-ray or DVD player are free to grow a collection and purchase discs from around the globe. Similarly, if you move around and relocate to different countries, an all-region player is a must-own.,

Who should buy an all-region Blu-ray player or DVD player:

• Cinephiles looking to expand their collection with imported international titles
• International travelers
• Globe hoppers frequently relocating to different countries

Best Region-free Blu-ray Players FAQs

Best Region-free Blu-ray and DVD Players – Final Thoughts

From 4K UHD region-free Blu-ray players to cheap code-free DVD players, there are tons of choices for watching your entire collection of international DVDs and Blu-ray discs. The LG UBKM9 is a compelling choice with 4K Ultra HD disc compatibility and HDR10 as well as Dolby Vision, and a feature set rivaling region-locked Blu-ray players. If you don’t need 4K disc support, the iVid BD780 or Sony BDP-S6700 are great picks. While a Blu-ray player makes the most sense, if you’re on a tight budget and only need an all-region DVD player, the Panasonic DVD-S700EP-K or LONPOO LP-099 are cheap multi-zone DVD players.

Your turn: Which region-free Blu-ray and DVD players do you recommend?