gem-hunter

The most battle-tested open-source video player component for React Native with support for DRM, offline playback, HLS/DASH streaming, and more.

react-native-video v7 introduces full support for the new React Native architecture, unlocking better performance, improved consistency, and modern native modules.

• 📖 Documentation
• 🤖 AI agent skill — use react-native-video correctly with AI coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex); install with npx skills add TheWidlarzGroup/react-native-video
• 📦 Example: Basic Usage
• 📦 Example: Free DRM Stream

• React Native 0.75 or higher
• react-native-nitro-modules (>=0.31.10) - Please see nitro requirements

react-native-video requires react-native-nitro-modules (>=0.31.10) in your project.

npm install react-native-nitro-modules

Then install react-native-video

# Install the beta version of react-native-video v7
npm install react-native-video@beta

# Install pods
cd ios && pod install

Without this patch you won't be able "recognize" errors, all will be thrown as unknown errors.

see installation guide

import { useVideoPlayer, VideoView } from 'react-native-video';

export default () => (
  const player = useVideoPlayer(
    'https://www.w3schools.com/html/mov_bbb.mp4',
    (_player) => {
      _player.play();
    }
  );

  <VideoView
    player={player}
    style={{ width: '100%', aspectRatio: 16 / 9 }}
    controls
  />
);

We see the need for a more feature-rich video player. There is a gap between open source and commercial players, and we want to fill that gap with plugins.

Are you using a commercial player just for 1-2 features? Maybe you are paying for a license just to get Caching, Ads, or Analytics? Let us know. We want to identify these missing pieces and build them, so you can switch back to open source.

This is what we have already. Check out!

• Offline Video: Logic for downloading streams (HLS/DASH) and standard video files to enable offline playback.
• Background Uploader: Handles uploads even if the app is minimized (not strictly a player plugin, but super useful).
• Chapter Markers: Visual markers on the timeline to navigate content.

-> Tell us what to build next ← or reach out to us sdk@thewidlarzgroup.com

See how TWG helped Learnn ship a world‑class player in record time - case study.

Contact us at hi@thewidlarzgroup.com

• 🐦 X / Twitter - follow product & release updates
• 💬 Discord - talk to the community and us
• 💼 LinkedIn - see TWG flexing

• 🗽 React Summit US – How TWG helped Learnn boost video performance on React Native.
  Watch the talk »

• 🧨 v7 deep dive – Why we’re building v7 with Nitro Modules Watch on X »

• 🛠️ Well-maintained open-source library - What does it truly mean? - Bart's talk for React Native Warsaw Watch here »

• 📺 “Over the Top” Panel - Building Streaming Apps for Mobile, Web, and Smart TVs - Bart giving his insights on the industry Watch here »