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mpv

Minimal, scriptable open-source media player with very high-quality video output.

Open sourceVideo players
Visit mpvSee 5 alternatives
Verified facts
4 of 4
Alternatives ranked
5
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0
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About mpv

mpv is a command-line media player with no real GUI, just a small on-screen controller over the video. That minimalism is the point: it starts fast, plays almost anything, and exposes everything through configuration files and Lua or JavaScript scripts, with a large collection of user scripts on its wiki. Its video output is a favourite of enthusiasts, offering high-quality scaling algorithms, colour management, frame timing, interpolation and HDR handling, along with hardware decoding on all major platforms. A C API lets other apps embed it, which is why players like IINA, Celluloid, Haruna and mpv.net are built on top of it. mpv is free and open source, mostly under GPL or LGPL terms. Official binaries are limited, so on Windows and macOS you usually install a third-party build or a package manager version. It suits technical users who want precise control and don't mind editing text files.

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

Pros and cons

What works

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

Why people leave

  • No proper GUI; configuration is done in text files
  • Windows and macOS builds come from third parties
  • Steep learning curve for casual users

Top mpv alternatives

See all 5
  1. 1IINA logo
    IINA

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

    66.5
  2. 2mpv.net logo
    mpv.net

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

    62.6
  3. 3Celluloid logo
    Celluloid

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

    59.6
  4. 4Haruna logo
    Haruna

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

    57.2
  5. 5VLC media player logo
    VLC media player

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

    55.3

Why people left mpv

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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mpv: common questions

Is mpv free?

Yes. mpv is free, open-source software.

Is mpv open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at mpv-player/mpv.

What platforms does mpv run on?

mpv is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to mpv?

The highest-ranked mpv alternatives right now are IINA, mpv.net and Celluloid. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 mpv alternatives