Alternatives to Celluloid

A simple GTK front end for the mpv video player on Linux. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Celluloid.

  • Haruna

    An open-source KDE video player built on libmpv with automatic playlists and configurable shortcuts.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Haruna is an open-source libmpv player built for KDE rather than GTK, with automatic folder playlists, seek bar previews and online video through yt-dlp.

  • mpv

    A minimal, scriptable media player with high quality video output and no real interface to get in the way.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    mpv is the engine Celluloid wraps, running on Windows, macOS and Linux with scripting and advanced video output, but without a real graphical interface beyond an on-screen controller.

  • Showtime

    GNOME's video player, with simple playback controls, subtitles, multiple audio tracks and screenshots.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Showtime is GNOME's GPL-3.0 video player with fading controls, subtitle and audio track selection, but offers fewer advanced options and does not use mpv configuration.

  • Clapper

    A GNOME media player built on GStreamer and GTK4, designed for simplicity and ease of use.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Clapper is a GTK4 GNOME player that uses GStreamer instead of mpv, so format support depends on installed GStreamer plugins and mpv configs no longer apply.

  • VLC media player

    A free player that opens almost any video or audio file, disc or stream without installing a codec pack.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    VLC media player uses its own engine instead of mpv, runs on desktop and mobile platforms, and plays a very wide codec list without mpv configuration files.

  • SMPlayer

    A front end for mpv and MPlayer that remembers where you stopped in every file you have ever opened.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    SMPlayer is a GPL-2.0 front end for mpv and MPlayer on Windows, macOS and Linux that remembers position per file, though its Qt interface is dated.

  • MPC-QT

    A reimplementation of Media Player Classic built with Qt and libmpv.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux

    MPC-QT keeps libmpv playback but uses a Qt interface modelled on MPC-HC, with builds for Windows and Linux rather than a GTK look.

  • Dragon Player

    A simple KDE video player that plays video files and streams with minimal controls.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Dragon Player is a simple open-source KDE video player on Linux with deliberately few features and monthly releases.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Celluloid as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Parole

    A lightweight GStreamer-based media player written to fit the Xfce desktop.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Celluloid is a simple GTK front end for mpv on Linux with drag and drop playlists and Wayland support, replacing GStreamer with mpv's engine.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.