Provided are a video playing method and apparatus. Wherein the video playing method comprises: performing video-preprocessing on video data to be played and playing the video data obtained after the video-preprocessing by means of a main process of the Web client; in the case that the performance resource of the Web client is insufficient, creating and starting a video service process, wherein the video service process is configured to perform the video-preprocessing on video data to be played and play the video data obtained after the video-preprocessing. In the technical solution according to the embodiment in the present application, the main process of the Web client can play videos without relying on plug-ins. In the case that the performance resource of the Web client is insufficient, the video service process is used to play videos for the smoothness of video playing, which can also play videos without relying on plug-ins. Thus, videos can be played without relying on plug-ins by means of this solution.