Open Source Windows Media Player Alternatives

The best open source alternative to Windows Media Player is VLC Media Player. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Windows Media Player and loads of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Windows Media Player are MPC-HC, MPV, Strawberry and Clementine.

Windows Media Player alternatives are mainly Audio Players but may also be Media Players or Internet Radio Services. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Windows Media Player.

Windows Media Player alternatives page was last updated

Windows Media Player

256

Free • Proprietary
Audio Player

Windows Media Player is a video and audio player developed by Microsoft for Windows 11 and Windows 10. It is the successor...

More about Windows Media Player

VLC Media Player
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Media Player
Audio Player
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
BSD
iPad
AppImageHub
Apple Watch
Snapcraft
Google Chrome
Apple TV
Flathub
PortableApps.com
F-Droid
Kindle Fire
Haiku
Android TV
Homebrew
Chocolatey
273 VLC Media Player alternatives
VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.
- - VLC Media Player is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Windows Media Player.
- - VLC Media Player is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Windows Media Player.
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VLC Media Player Features
1. Ad-freeVLC Media Player doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of VLC Media Player.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsVLC Media Player can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in VLC Media Player without registration.
5. Chromecast SupportCast your content to a Chromecast connected device with VLC Media Player.
6. Support for 4KVLC Media Player supports watching, rendering or exporting 4K content (also know as UHD or Ultra HD).
7. Dark ModeVLC Media Player supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
8. PortableVLC Media Player can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
9. Works OfflineVLC Media Player can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Video playback
Built-in Media converter
Support for subtitles
Integrated Codecs
Customizable
Cross-Platform
Replay Gain
Playlists management
Playback speed control
Media Streaming
Comments about VLC Media Player as a Alternative to Windows Media Player
Most users think VLC Media Player is a great Windows Media Player alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Can actually play most media files and actually fulfil its purpose unlike wmp
Top positive comment•
5

It's efficient and the music is clear to listen to!
Top positive comment•
1

VLC, while an awesome media player, lacks WMP's library features. Thus, it is not an all-in-one system like WMP is.
Top negative comment•
21

Not an alternative to Windows Media Player at all because the main function of WMP is to organize song tracks into albums by artist. Just playing a file isn't a big deal.
Positive comment•
1

The library features of WMP is far more intuitive.
Negative comment•
5

Show more comments ▾
5 of 9 comments
MPC-HC
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Media Player
Audio Player
Windows
PortableApps.com
129 MPC-HC alternatives
Media Player Classic Home Cinema (MPC-HC) is an extremely light-weight, open source media player for Windows®. Media Player Classic Home Cinema supports all common video and audio file formats available for playback.
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MPC-HC Features
1. LightweightMPC-HC consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Ad-freeMPC-HC doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Dark ModeMPC-HC supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in MPC-HC without registration.
5. Works OfflineMPC-HC can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of MPC-HC.
7. Support for 4KMPC-HC supports watching, rendering or exporting 4K content (also know as UHD or Ultra HD).
8. Privacy focusedMPC-HC is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
9. PortableMPC-HC can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Stream audio
Webcam recording
Opinions about MPC-HC as a Alternative to Windows Media Player
Most users think MPC-HC is a great Windows Media Player alternative.
MPV
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Media Player
Audio Player
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
BSD
Xfce
91 MPV alternatives
MPV is an audio and movie player based on MPlayer and mplayer2. It supports a wide variety of video file formats, audio and video codecs, and subtitle types.
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MPV Features
1. LightweightMPV consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Command line interfaceMPV either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsMPV can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Ad-freeMPV doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Dark ModeMPV supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
6. Music LooperMPV supports a grid of musical loops and phrases that you can trigger and manipulate in real time.
7. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in MPV without registration.
8. Hardware AcceleratedMPV can use the GPU and CPU to speed up rendering, conversion, and overall performance.
9. Works OfflineMPV can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Minimalistic
Integrated Codecs
Low resource footprint
FOSS
Lua scripting
HDR source support
Configurable
Video playback
Drag and Drop
GNU/linux-libre
Comments about MPV as a Alternative to Windows Media Player
Most users think MPV is a great Windows Media Player alternative.
MPV is an open source and professional project
Positive comment•
5
Strawberry
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Audio Player
Media Player
Audio Converter
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
226 Strawberry alternatives
Strawberry is a music player and music collection organizer. It is a fork of Clementine released in 2018 aimed at music collectors and audiophiles. The name is inspired by the band Strawbs. It's written in C++ using the Qt framework.
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Strawberry Features
1. LightweightStrawberry consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Lossless AudioStrawberry has lossless audio support, basically studio quality sound.
3. Ad-freeStrawberry doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Strawberry without registration.
5. Goal Setting Strawberry can set individual or group goals to meet over a particular period.
6. Works OfflineStrawberry can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
7. Privacy focusedStrawberry is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Music Library
Music collection
Customizable
Automatic Lyrics Finder
Auto fetch album covers
Playlists management
Gapless Playback
Automatic album art download
Integrated Last.fm scrobbler
ListenBrainz scrobbling
Comments about Strawberry as a Alternative to Windows Media Player
Most users think Strawberry is a great Windows Media Player alternative.
Unlike VLC, Strawberry is not a "file player" but a complete management software for your music collection. Very convenient UI, can rip CDs, gives you the choice of encoders/decoders, ...
Positive comment•
1
Clementine
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Audio Player
Internet Radio Service
Podcast Player
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
235 Clementine alternatives
Clementine is a cross-platform free and open source music player and library organizer. It is a port of Amarok 1.4 to the Qt 4 framework and the GStreamer multimedia framework, focusing on a fast and easy-to-use interface for searching and...
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Clementine Features
1. LightweightClementine consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Lossless AudioClementine has lossless audio support, basically studio quality sound.
Smart playlists
Dynamic/Intelligent Playlists
Integrated Last.fm scrobbler
Playlists management
Audio Visualization
Podcast Subscription
Moodbar
Ratings
Music Library
Built-in Tag editor
Comments about Clementine as a Alternative to Windows Media Player
Most users think Clementine is a great Windows Media Player alternative.
one of the greatest FOSS players, but tbh I prefer quodLibet since it's more lightweight
Positive comment•
0
SMPlayer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Media Player
Audio Player
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
mpv
PortableApps.com
Haiku
MPlayer
115 SMPlayer alternatives
SMPlayer intends to be a complete front-end for MPlayer, from basic features like playing videos, DVDs, and VCDs to more advanced features like support for MPlayer filters and more. SMPlayer remembers the settings of all files you play.
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SMPlayer Features
1. LightweightSMPlayer consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Ad-freeSMPlayer doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Works OfflineSMPlayer can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
4. PortableSMPlayer can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. Chromecast SupportCast your content to a Chromecast connected device with SMPlayer.
Customizable
Support for subtitles
Multiplatform
Skin customization
Youtube support
Integrated Codecs
Built-in subtitle search
Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
Multiple languages
HDR source support
Opinions about SMPlayer as a Alternative to Windows Media Player
Most users think SMPlayer is a great Windows Media Player alternative.
Audacious
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Audio Player
Internet Radio Service
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
Xfce
124 Audacious alternatives
Audacious is an advanced audio player. It is free, lightweight, based on GTK+, runs on Linux and many other *nix platforms and is focused on audio quality and supporting a wide range of audio codecs. There is also support for several visual styles from Winamp.
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Audacious Features
1. LightweightAudacious consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsAudacious can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. Dark ModeAudacious supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
4. No TrackingAudacious will not track you or use your personal data.
5. Ad-freeAudacious doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
6. Lossless AudioAudacious has lossless audio support, basically studio quality sound.
7. PortableAudacious can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
8. Works OfflineAudacious can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Windows Compatible
Create Playlist
Music Library
3D visualization
Supports audio media keys
Playlists management
Queued Operations
Global hotkey
Dynamic Range Compressor
Skinnable
Comments about Audacious as a Alternative to Windows Media Player
pros, cons and recent comments
Windows Media Player is not Light Weight and audacious is light weight and only an Audio player. Win Media Player is Multimedia Player/RIpper with library functions.
Negative comment•
-3
Media Player Classic
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Media Player
Windows
125 Media Player Classic alternatives
Media Player Classic was designed to look just like Windows Media Player 6.4, but with many additional new features. It has a built in DVD player with real-time zoom, support for AVI subtitles, QuickTime and RealVideo support and built-in...
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Media Player Classic Features
Support for subtitles
Discontinued
The project is no longer developed. The currently active fork is MPC-HC . Latest version, 6.4.9.1, released in April 2011, can be still downloaded from FreeCodec.com

Opinions about Media Player Classic as a Alternative to Windows Media Player
Almost everyone thinks Media Player Classic is a great Windows Media Player alternative.
MPC-BE
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Media Player
Audio Player
Windows
104 MPC-BE alternatives
MPC-BE is a free and open source audio and video player for Windows.

MPC-BE is based on the original Guliverkli project and "Media Player Classic Home Cinema" project, contains additional features and bug fixes.
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MPC-BE Features
1. Dark ModeMPC-BE supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
2. LightweightMPC-BE consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. PortableMPC-BE can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
4. Works OfflineMPC-BE can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
5. Ad-freeMPC-BE doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Thumbnails
Customizable
Integrated Youtube support