Open source mpv alternatives
Top Media Players & Servers like mpv
The most popular alternative to mpv is VLC media player, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to mpv are IINA, MPC-HC, Kodi, and Jellyfin.
Most alternatives to mpv are in the Media Players & Servers category, compared here by price, platform and features.
All mpv alternatives
VLC is a free and open source media player from the VideoLAN non-profit that handles most video and audio formats, DVDs, audio CDs and network streams without installing extra codecs. It supports subtitles, hardware decoding, filters, format conversion and streaming, and can be extended with add-ons and skins. It runs on desktop and mobile platforms, with no ads, tracking or paid tier.
9 VLC media player alternativesPros
- Plays almost any file, disc or stream without extra codecs
- Free and open source, with no ads or tracking
- Available on desktop and mobile platforms
Cons
- Interface looks dated next to more modern players
- Advanced settings are buried in complex preference menus
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesIINA is a free, open source video player for macOS built on top of mpv. It wraps mpv's broad format support and hardware decoding in a native Mac interface with dark mode, Picture-in-Picture, trackpad gestures and Touch Bar controls. It can fetch subtitles from online sources, play YouTube and other web streams through youtube-dl compatible tools, and supports plugins written in JavaScript.
7 IINA alternativesPros
- Native macOS interface with Picture-in-Picture and trackpad gestures
- mpv engine plays almost any format with hardware decoding
- Fetches subtitles online and plays web streams
Cons
- Available only on macOS
- No media library management or media server features
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesPlatformsMPC-HC (Media Player Classic - Home Cinema) is a lightweight, open source media player for Windows with a classic, uncluttered interface. The maintained fork by clsid2 bundles LAV Filters to decode nearly all common formats, supports hardware-accelerated decoding, subtitles and renderers such as madVR or MPC Video Renderer, and runs well on older PCs. It is free and has no ads.
6 MPC-HC alternativesPros
- Lightweight and fast, even on older PCs
- Bundled LAV Filters decode nearly all common formats
- Supports high-quality renderers such as madVR
Cons
- Available only on Windows
- Dated interface with few modern conveniences
- Relies on a community fork since the original project stopped
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesPlatformsKodi is a free, open source media center, originally known as XBMC, designed for the big screen and remote controls. It organizes local and network movies, shows, music and photos with artwork and metadata, plays nearly every format, and is extended through add-ons, skins and PVR backends for live TV. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and small devices such as the Raspberry Pi.
9 Kodi alternativesPros
- Big-screen interface designed for remote controls
- Extensible with add-ons, skins and PVR backends for live TV
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and the Raspberry Pi
Cons
- Setup and configuration take time for newcomers
- Third-party add-ons vary in quality, and some carry legal or security risks
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesJellyfin is a free, open source media server for hosting your own movies, TV shows, music, books and photos and streaming them to web, mobile, TV and desktop clients. Forked from Emby in 2018, it has no premium tier or tracking: hardware transcoding, live TV and DVR, multiple users and plugins are all included. The server runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker and many NAS devices.
9 Jellyfin alternativesPros
- Completely free, with hardware transcoding and DVR included
- Open source, with no tracking and no premium tier
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker and many NAS devices
Cons
- Client apps are less polished than Plex or Emby on some devices
- Remote access needs manual setup such as a reverse proxy or VPN
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategories
mpv vs its alternatives at a glance
Pricing, platforms and the key features of mpv, compared with its most popular alternatives.
| App | Pricing | Platforms | API access | Hardware decoding | Plays almost any format | Plugins & extensions | Subtitles support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 mpv | FreeOpen source | Windows, Mac, Linux | |||||
 VLC media player | FreeOpen source | Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android | |||||
 IINA | FreeOpen source | Mac | |||||
 MPC-HC | FreeOpen source | Windows | |||||
 Kodi | FreeOpen source | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android | |||||
 Jellyfin | FreeOpen source | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, Self-hosted |
mpv alternatives: frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to mpv?
The most popular alternative to mpv is VLC media player: Free, open source media player that plays almost any file. Other great alternatives are IINA, MPC-HC, Kodi, and Jellyfin.
Is there a free alternative to mpv?
Yes, 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including VLC media player, IINA, MPC-HC, and Kodi.
Is there an open source alternative to mpv?
Yes, 5 open source alternatives are listed, including VLC media player, IINA, MPC-HC, and Kodi.
Is mpv free?
Yes, mpv is free to use.
Compare mpv with its alternatives
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