Alternatives to mpv

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

  • 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 offers a full graphical interface and adds Android and iOS builds, but drops mpv's Lua and JavaScript scripting and its config-file-driven workflow.

  • IINA

    The mpv engine wrapped in a macOS app that actually looks and behaves like a macOS app.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOS

    IINA keeps the mpv engine and its config files and Lua scripts, but adds a native macOS interface and runs only on macOS 11 or newer.

  • SMPlayer

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

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    SMPlayer puts a Qt graphical interface on top of mpv or MPlayer, remembers position and subtitles per file, and downloads subtitles from OpenSubtitles.

  • MPC-HC

    A small, fast Windows video player with a classic interface and DirectShow filter support.

    FreeOpen sourceWindows

    MPC-HC is a Windows-only player with a classic graphical interface and DirectShow filter support, replacing mpv's scripting and cross-platform builds.

  • MPC-BE

    A lightweight Windows media player descended from Media Player Classic, with its own independent development.

    FreeOpen sourceWindows

    MPC-BE is a Windows-only player descended from Media Player Classic with a graphical interface, installer and portable builds, but no macOS or Linux versions.

  • mpv.net

    A Windows media player built on mpv, adding a modern graphical interface and themes.

    FreeOpen sourceWindows

    mpv.net keeps nearly full mpv features and configuration while adding a graphical interface with colour themes, but it runs on Windows only.

  • Celluloid

    A simple GTK front end for the mpv video player on Linux.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Celluloid adds a simple GTK interface on Linux while using your existing mpv configuration and keybindings unchanged.

  • Haruna

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Haruna is a KDE player built on libmpv with a full interface, automatic folder playlists and configurable shortcuts, available on Linux only.

Also worth comparing

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

  • 5KPlayer

    A free Windows and Mac media player with AirPlay and DLNA streaming and an online video downloader.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    mpv is open source and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with scripting and high quality output, but has no real graphical interface and is configured through text files.

  • Clapper

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    mpv offers scripting, hardware decoding and high quality video output on several desktops, but replaces the GTK4 interface with an on-screen controller and hand-edited config files.

  • Dragon Player

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    mpv adds scripting, hardware decoding and advanced video output across Windows, macOS and Linux, but relies on an on-screen controller and hand-edited configuration files.

  • Elmedia Player

    A macOS video and audio player with native Apple Silicon support and AirPlay and Chromecast streaming.

    FreemiumProprietarymacOS

    mpv is free and open source on macOS, Windows and Linux with scripting and high quality video output, but has no real graphical interface and needs config files.

  • Infuse

    Apple-platform video player that connects to Plex, Jellyfin, Emby and network shares.

    FreemiumProprietarymacOSiOS

    mpv is free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux with high quality output and scripting, but has no real graphical interface and no iOS build.

  • KMPlayer

    A free Windows and macOS video player with built-in codecs for most formats, including 4K and 3D.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    mpv is open source across Windows, macOS and Linux with high quality video output and scripting, but it has no real graphical interface and uses hand-edited config files.

  • MPC-QT

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

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux

    mpv is the engine behind MPC-QT, used directly with only an on-screen controller and hand-edited config files, and it also runs on macOS.

  • Parole

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    mpv offers high quality video output and scripting across Windows, macOS and Linux, but has no real graphical interface and uses hand-edited config files.

  • Showtime

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    mpv is a cross-platform, scriptable player with high quality video output and hardware decoding, but it has almost no graphical interface and relies on hand-edited config files.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.