5 Best Open Source Linux Media Players

Media player is one of the most important tools that a computer has. Although, there are myriads of choices available for free, open source media players are highly preferred by Linux users. Linux may not have a large user group, but those loyal to it, prefer open source tools over other available options. Today, we’re going to talk about the 5 best open source Linux media players that are worth using:

1. VLC:

VLC needs no introduction as it is one of the most widely used media players in the world on different platforms. Its open source characteristic makes this tool most preferred for Linux user base. VLC is popular for its player adaptability that plays almost every type of video. VLC may not appear fancy when it comes to its interface but it performs its intended task without a doubt. If you’re using a Linux and looking for an open source media player, VLC may be the one you’re looking for. Apart from playing any video format, it also offers screen capturing with equalizer, stabilizer and compressor.

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Must Read: 10 Best Web Browsers For Linux

2. SMPlayer:

SMPlayer is one of the best open source Linux media player that was especially designed for this platform. SMPlayer lets you play any type of video without the need of external codecs. It comes with a built-in chromecast support and an attractive user interface. You can choose custom skin for the player and download subtitles from its own tool. SMPlayer goes a step ahead in user satisfaction and offers toolbar customization.

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3. MPV:

MPV is comparatively a new tool that is a result of a fork of MPlayer2. The new addition to MPV due to the fork was a graphic interface to help neophytes. However, there are ambiguous responses when it comes to the ease of use of MPV. If you’re trying to play a 4K video, it doesn’t disappoint you. MPV also helps you in using it from command-line that makes it more accessible.

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4. Kodi:

Kodi is a well known open source media player for Linux that is watched by XBMC foundation for its development. The tool has a user friendly interface, filters and search & sort options for media library. Kodi provides you with a built in subtitle sync and download functions to help you more with its usage. With a built in support for multiple user profiles, Kodi also allows joysticks and gamepads.

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5. Banshee:

Banshee was released as an open source Linux Media Player under MIT license. The tool lets you transfer file to and from iPods and offers automatic addition of metadata. Banshee features an audio equalizer and you can use the tool as a DAAP server to allow iTunes to share media on a local network.

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Overall, there are many open source media players that would go well with your Linux. However, the above listed players are amongst the most trusted and best in their intended tasks. It is important that you download these tools from their official website to avoid any infection to get into your machine. If you find the above tools as per your expectation, you may go ahead and get its license to unlock any premium feature, if there is.

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