Haruna

It is easy to use and well integrated into the KDE Desktop environment. While VLC is more capable and has more options, I think Haruna is better fitted for casual users, wanting to watch video files.

After using IINA on Mac for years, and then switching to VLC Media Player on Linux, I've finally settled with Haruna, which is really good, and the best fit for my needs on Fedora/KDE. One thing I particularly like is the ability to add two subtitle tracks, which can be very useful when there are multiple foreign languages in a movie, for example.

Easy to use, dual subtitles, highly customizable. Powered by KDE, QT, and MPV. But no audio output selector, no audio equalizer, and no plug-ins yet.

Below is the same review as above. But with details for those interested.

Strength:

• Libre Source (Open Source). If you are not familiar with "Libre Source", it means this software has both stronger security & stronger privacy. Because its code is publicly available for review and contributions on KDE GitLab at https://invent.kde.org/multimedia/haruna/-/tree/master?ref_type=heads

• Attractive GNU General Public License version 2, 3, CC-BY, CCO 1, and BSD 3. This means the software code is owned and supported by a friendly not-for-profit community. Instead of a for-profit corporation. https://invent.kde.org/multimedia/haruna/-/tree/master/LICENSES?ref_type=heads

• Easy to use

• Dual subtitles

• Support Wayland

• Playlist

• Allow only one instance or multiple instances of Haruna

• Dark themes

• Highly customizable

• Built-in “youtube-dl”. To either playback or download YouTube videos.

• Powered by KDE, QT, and LibMPV.

• Haruna is my favorite alternative to VLC

• Cross-platform Linux and Windows

• Latest version available for Linux at https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.kde.haruna

• Many ways to contribute to Haruna:

___• Donation at https://haruna.kde.org/donate/ or https://liberapay.com/gfb/

___• Github sponsor at https://github.com/sponsors/g-fb

___• Answering questions in user support at https://haruna.kde.org/users/

___• Report bug at https://bugs.kde.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=haruna

___• Contribut documentation, patch, or various other options at https://haruna.kde.org/get-involved/

Challenge:

• Audio output can't be redirect to another device. I mean there is no quick and easy built-in option to choose the device for the audio output. For exemple, redirecting the audio output to speakers or an headset. As a temporary workaround, this challenge can be resolved with either using the operating systems or using this EasyEffects app at https://flathub.org/en/apps/com.github.wwmm.easyeffects

• No audio equalizer. As a temporary workaround, this challenge can be resolved with EasyEffects https://flathub.org/en/apps/com.github.wwmm.easyeffects

• No plug-ins. This would be a great future feature. So that more people could contribute to it. In turn, end-user would be able to active only the plug-ins of interest to them.

Used

This review was done using:

• Haruna 1.6.0

• Debian 12 Bookworm

• GNOME 43.9

Disclaimer

I do not have a financial conflict of interest with any of the products mentioned above. My feelings and thoughts are my own. Not those of any business.

It's the only player that fulfill my needs as it should. I want to make subtitle text smaller, push it down, zoom out video and push video up so subtitle does not cover any content.