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cmus vs DeaDBeeF: catalog facts
cmus	DeaDBeeF
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source under the zlib licence.
macOS, Linux, Command line	Windows, macOS, Linux
Instant startup with large libraries Gapless playback and ReplayGain	Very low memory and CPU use compared with modern players Plugin architecture covers decoders, output, DSP and interface separately
Terminal only, no graphical interface Scrobbling needs an external status program	The default interface is plain and takes configuration to get comfortable Library management is weaker than in players built around a database
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0-or-later	License: Zlib
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.