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Celluloid alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Celluloid: linux only, and few options in the GUI itself. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Celluloid, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Haruna currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1VLC media player logoVLC media playerOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +23 of 362.6
2SMPlayer logoSMPlayerOpen sourceYesWindows, Linux, macOS4 of 459.6
3mpv logompvOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 457.2
  1. VLC media player logo

    1. VLC media playerTop pick

    Best for: Anyone who wants one free player that opens almost any file on every device

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Celluloid

    Cross-platform with many more tools built in.

    Pros

    • Plays nearly every format without extra codecs
    • Free and open source, no ads or tracking
    • Available on desktop and mobile platforms

    Cons

    • Interface looks dated and settings are hard to navigate
    • Library and metadata features are basic
    • HDR and high-end video output lag behind mpv-based players
    Visit VLC media player Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is VLC media player a good Celluloid alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Tagline
    Plays everything, runs anywhere
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. SMPlayer logo

    2. SMPlayer

    Best for: People who want an easy, free player that resumes each file with its own settings

    Open sourceWindows, Linux, macOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Celluloid

    Fuller interface with per-file settings and YouTube playback.

    Pros

    • Remembers position and settings per file
    • Built-in codecs play almost anything
    • Free, open source and ad-free

    Cons

    • Interface is functional rather than modern
    • macOS support is less polished than on Windows and Linux
    • Some features depend on which engine you pick
    Visit SMPlayer Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is SMPlayer a good Celluloid alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, Linux, macOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026smplayer.info(opens source in a new tab)
    Resume
    Remembers settings per file
    Checked Oct 25, 2026smplayer.info(opens source in a new tab)
    Chromecast
    Supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026smplayer.info(opens source in a new tab)
  3. mpv logo

    3. mpv

    Best for: Technical users who want the best image quality and full control through config files and scripts

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Celluloid

    Use mpv directly if you don't need a GUI at all.

    Pros

    • Excellent scaling, colour management and HDR output
    • Highly scriptable with a large script library
    • Fast, lightweight and free

    Cons

    • No proper GUI; configuration is done in text files
    • Windows and macOS builds come from third parties
    • Steep learning curve for casual users
    Visit mpv Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is mpv a good Celluloid alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mpv.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Scripting
    Lua/JS user scripts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mpv.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Hardware decoding
    Yes, most APIs
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mpv.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Embeddable
    C API
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mpv.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Celluloid alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Haruna logo

Best Celluloid alternative for most people

Haruna

mpv front end for KDE with more built-in features.

VLC media player logo

Best Celluloid alternative for a free option

VLC media player

Cross-platform with many more tools built in.

SMPlayer logo

Best Celluloid alternative for open source

SMPlayer

Fuller interface with per-file settings and YouTube playback.

mpv logo

Best Celluloid alternative for Mac

mpv

Use mpv directly if you don't need a GUI at all.

VLC media player logo

Best Celluloid alternative for Windows

VLC media player

Cross-platform with many more tools built in.

Haruna logo

Best Celluloid alternative for Linux

Haruna

mpv front end for KDE with more built-in features.

VLC media player logo

Best Celluloid alternative for iPhone and Android

VLC media player

Cross-platform with many more tools built in.

Celluloid alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Celluloid?

Haruna ranks first right now. mpv front end for KDE with more built-in features. VLC media player and SMPlayer follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Celluloid?

Yes. Haruna (open source), VLC media player (open source), SMPlayer (open source) and mpv (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Celluloid?

Yes: Haruna, VLC media player, SMPlayer and mpv.

Which Celluloid alternatives work on Linux?

Haruna, VLC media player, SMPlayer and mpv run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Celluloid?

The complaints we hear most: linux only; few options in the GUI itself; fewer features than SMPlayer or VLC.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Celluloid, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.