# Best Open-Source Media Players in 2026

Source: https://listme.name/best/media-players/open-source

Media players differ on whether they play files on one device or serve a whole library to others, and on whether the code is open. This ranking weighs format support and everyday playback first, then library and streaming features, then platform reach and price.

## 1. VLC media player (score 91.5)

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
- Free and open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | open source (GPL-2.0)
- Website: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/
- Page: https://listme.name/software/vlc

## 2. Jellyfin (score 87.5)

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
- Free and open source | Web, Android, Self-hosted | open source (GPL-2.0)
- Website: https://jellyfin.org/
- Page: https://listme.name/software/jellyfin

## 3. Kodi (score 84.0)

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
- Free and open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | open source (GPL-2.0-or-later)
- Website: https://kodi.tv/
- Page: https://listme.name/software/kodi

## 4. mpv (score 82.5)

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
- Free and open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | open source (GPL-2.0)
- Website: https://mpv.io/
- Page: https://listme.name/software/mpv

## 5. IINA (score 81.0)

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
- Free and open source | macOS | open source (GPL-3.0)
- Website: https://iina.io/
- Page: https://listme.name/software/iina