Head-to-head · Audio Player Software
Elisa vs Audacious
Elisa leads on 0 checks, Audacious on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreElisa · 8.1/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresElisa · 2 of 4
Elisa scores higher on our rubric for audio player software: 8.1 against 7.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.
Elisa is the better fit for linux and Android users wanting a free library player. Audacious is the better fit for open-source players wanting flexible desktop playback.
- Elisa fits best
Linux and Android users wanting a free library player
- Audacious fits best
Open-source players wanting flexible desktop playback
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Side by side
| Feature | Elisa 8.1/10 Visit ↗ | Audacious 7.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.1 | 7.7 |
| Ranking | #4 in Audio Player Software | #7 in Audio Player Software |
| Best for | Linux and Android users wanting a free library player | Open-source players wanting flexible desktop playback |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile | Desktop |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo | Solo, Small business |
| Features Elisa 2/4 · Audacious 0/4 | ||
| Library management | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Playlist support | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Tag editing | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Gapless playback | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | Linux, Windows, Android | Not checked yet |
| Audio formats | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Elisa is an open-source music player developed by the KDE community for people who want a straightforward way to organize and play a local collection. It indexes music from configured paths or Baloo when available, then lets users browse… Read the review → |
Audacious is a free, open-source desktop audio player for people who want control over music playback without a paid plan. It runs on Linux, BSD derivatives, macOS, and Windows, and handles local music, audio CDs, and internet streams. Its… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Elisa — where it wins
- Free, open-source player for Linux, Windows, and Android
- Browses and filters music by genre, artist, album, track, and rating
- Supports M3U8 playlists, shuffle, repeat, lyrics, radio, and Party Mode
Where it doesn't
- Advanced playback and audio-management features are comparatively narrow
- Community support may not fit teams seeking vendor support channels
- Positioning is for solo users rather than larger team deployments
Audacious — where it wins
- Plays local music, audio CDs, and internet streams
- Offers library search, playlists, ReplayGain, and gapless playback
- Qt, GTK, and Winamp Classic interfaces with plugin-based support
Where it doesn't
- Focused on audio rather than video playback
- Desktop-only deployment
- Support is through community resources and documentation
- Elisa8.1/10 · Free plan
A free, open-source library player with playlists, radio, and cross-platform support.
Visit ElisaFull verdict → - Audacious7.7/10 · Free plan
A free, flexible desktop player for local music, internet streams, and playlists.
Visit AudaciousFull verdict →
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All audio player software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update