Filtered ranking
Best Open-Source Media Players in 2026
5 of the 6 media players ranked on listme.name match: their source code is public under an open-source license. The order uses the same scores as the full ranking.
The ranking
- 1
VLC media player
Plays nearly any audio or video format on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, and it is free and open source under GPL-2.0. It does not serve a library to other devices.
Best for Playing almost any file on any computer
WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidFree and open sourceOpen source
- 2
Jellyfin
Free software media server with no subscription, streaming to web and Android clients from your own hardware. Setup and maintenance fall on the user, which makes it harder to start than Plex.
Best for A free, self-hosted library with no vendor account
WebAndroidSelf-hostedFree and open sourceOpen source
- 3
Kodi
Free home theater software that plays local files and add-on content on Android, Windows, macOS and Linux. Add-on quality varies, and it is a player rather than a server.
Best for A home theater setup on a TV or media box
WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidFree and open sourceOpen source
- 4
mpv
Free and open source with precise keyboard control and scripting on Windows, macOS and Linux. It has no graphical menus by default, so it is harder to learn than VLC.
Best for Keyboard-driven playback and scripting
WindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source
- 5
IINA
A free, open-source player built for macOS, with plugin support and a native look. It runs on Mac only, so it covers fewer systems than VLC.
Best for A native macOS player with plugins
macOSFree and open sourceOpen source
At a glance
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Serves a home library |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 VLC media player | 91.5 | Free and open source | WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroid | No |
 Jellyfin | 87.5 | Free and open source | WebAndroidSelf-hosted | Yes |
 Kodi | 84.0 | Free and open source | WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroid | No |
 mpv | 82.5 | Free and open source | WindowsmacOSLinux | No |
 IINA | 81.0 | Free and open source | macOS | No |
