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cmus vs mpg123: catalog facts
cmus	mpg123
Free Free and open source.	Free Free software under the LGPL 2.1.
macOS, Linux, Command line	Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
Instant startup with large libraries Gapless playback and ReplayGain	Lightweight console MP3 playback Runtime-selected assembly optimizations for x86, x86-64 and ARM
Terminal only, no graphical interface Scrobbling needs an external status program	Command-line only, no graphical interface Focused on MPEG audio rather than every audio format
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0-or-later	License: LGPL-2.1-only
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 October 1, 2026

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