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mpv alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave mpv: no proper GUI; configuration is done in text files, and windows and macOS builds come from third parties. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces mpv, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. IINA currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1IINA logoIINAOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 466.5
2mpv.net logompv.netOpen sourceYesWindows3 of 362.6
3Celluloid logoCelluloidOpen sourceYesLinux4 of 459.6
4Haruna logoHarunaOpen sourceYesLinux4 of 457.2
5VLC media player logoVLC media playerOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +23 of 355.3
  1. IINA logo

    1. IINATop pick

    Best for: Mac users who want a free, native-feeling player that plays everything

    Open sourcemacOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from mpv

    Gives mpv's playback engine a proper Mac interface and settings screens.

    Pros

    • Feels like a native Mac app, with gestures and PiP
    • mpv engine plays almost any format
    • Free, open source and free of telemetry

    Cons

    • macOS only
    • Plugin ecosystem is still small
    • Fewer advanced options in the UI than raw mpv
    Visit IINA Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    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 IINA a good mpv alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Engine
    mpv
    Checked Oct 25, 2026iina.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Telemetry
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026iina.io(opens source in a new tab)
    System requirement
    macOS 12.0 (11.0 on Intel)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026iina.io(opens source in a new tab)
  2. mpv.net logo

    2. mpv.net

    Best for: Windows users who want mpv's image quality with menus and a settings dialog

    Open sourceWindows

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from mpv

    Windows GUI around mpv that keeps mpv's config and scripts.

    Pros

    • mpv engine with a Windows-friendly GUI
    • Compatible with mpv config files and scripts
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • Small team, so updates are irregular
    • Still more technical than mainstream players
    Visit mpv.net 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 mpv.net a good mpv alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platform
    Windows
    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)
  3. Celluloid logo

    3. Celluloid

    Best for: Linux users who want mpv's playback with a clean, simple desktop interface

    Open sourceLinux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from mpv

    Simple GTK front end for mpv on Linux that reads mpv's config files.

    Pros

    • Uses mpv's config files as-is
    • Clean interface that fits GNOME desktops
    • Free, open source and on Flatpak

    Cons

    • Linux only
    • Few options in the GUI itself
    • Fewer features than SMPlayer or VLC
    Visit Celluloid 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 Celluloid a good mpv alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Engine
    mpv
    Checked Oct 25, 2026celluloid-player.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Wayland
    Supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026celluloid-player.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Flatpak
    Available
    Checked Oct 25, 2026celluloid-player.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Haruna logo

    4. Haruna

    Best for: KDE Plasma users who want an mpv-based player with handy playlist and shortcut features

    Open sourceLinux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from mpv

    KDE front end for mpv with a playlist sidebar and configurable shortcuts.

    Pros

    • Auto playlist from the current folder
    • Seek-bar previews and configurable shortcuts
    • Plays online videos via yt-dlp

    Cons

    • Primarily a Linux and KDE app
    • Fewer settings exposed than SMPlayer
    • Pulls in KDE libraries on other desktops
    Visit Haruna 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 Haruna a good mpv alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Engine
    libmpv
    Checked Oct 25, 2026haruna.kde.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Online video
    youtube-dl/yt-dlp
    Checked Oct 25, 2026haruna.kde.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Flatpak
    On Flathub
    Checked Oct 25, 2026haruna.kde.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Seek previews
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026haruna.kde.org(opens source in a new tab)
  5. VLC media player logo

    5. VLC media player

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from mpv

    Easier menus and wider device support if you don't want to write configs.

    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 Compare with mpvDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    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 mpv 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)

The best mpv alternative for…

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

IINA logo

Best mpv alternative for most people

IINA

Gives mpv's playback engine a proper Mac interface and settings screens.

mpv.net logo

Best mpv alternative for a free option

mpv.net

Windows GUI around mpv that keeps mpv's config and scripts.

Celluloid logo

Best mpv alternative for open source

Celluloid

Simple GTK front end for mpv on Linux that reads mpv's config files.

VLC media player logo

Best mpv alternative for Mac

VLC media player

Easier menus and wider device support if you don't want to write configs.

mpv.net logo

Best mpv alternative for Windows

mpv.net

Windows GUI around mpv that keeps mpv's config and scripts.

Haruna logo

Best mpv alternative for Linux

Haruna

KDE front end for mpv with a playlist sidebar and configurable shortcuts.

VLC media player logo

Best mpv alternative for iPhone and Android

VLC media player

Easier menus and wider device support if you don't want to write configs.

mpv alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to mpv?

IINA ranks first right now. Gives mpv's playback engine a proper Mac interface and settings screens. mpv.net and Celluloid follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to mpv?

Yes. IINA (open source), mpv.net (open source), Celluloid (open source) and Haruna (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to mpv?

Yes: IINA, mpv.net, Celluloid and Haruna, plus 1 more in the list above.

Which mpv alternatives work on Linux?

Celluloid, Haruna and VLC media player run on Linux.

Why do people switch from mpv?

The complaints we hear most: no proper GUI; configuration is done in text files; windows and macOS builds come from third parties; steep learning curve for casual users.

How is this list ranked?

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