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Head-to-head · Audio Player Software

foobar2000 vs Elisa

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score foobar2000 #1 in Audio Player Software 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit foobar2000
Elisa #4 in Audio Player Software 8.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Elisa

foobar2000 leads on 0 checks, Elisa 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 scorefoobar2000 · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresElisa · 2 of 4

foobar2000 scores higher on our rubric for audio player software: 9.3 against 8.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

foobar2000 is the better fit for listeners wanting a capable, free everyday player. Elisa is the better fit for linux and Android users wanting a free library player.

  • foobar2000 fits best

    Listeners wanting a capable, free everyday player

  • Elisa fits best

    Linux and Android users wanting a free library player

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature foobar2000 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Elisa 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.1
Ranking #1 in Audio Player Software #4 in Audio Player Software
Best for Listeners wanting a capable, free everyday player Linux and Android users wanting a free library player
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux Linux, Windows, Android
Support Community, Docs Community
Built for Solo, Small business Solo
Features foobar2000 0/4 · Elisa 2/4
Library management Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Playlist support Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Tag editing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Gapless playback Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Not checked yet Linux, Windows, Android
Audio formats Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Plays many audio formats, with more available through components or FFmpeg
  • Combines gapless playback, ReplayGain, tagging, and audio conversion
  • Supports internet radio and several network playback and share protocols
  • 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
Cons
  • Interface layout customization is limited to Windows and macOS
  • Linux support is through Wine rather than a listed native platform
  • Its focus is audio playback, not general-purpose video playback
  • 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
Our verdict

For listeners who want a free player centered on music libraries, foobar2000 brings playback, organization, and audio processing together. It supports Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, with the Windows version also able to run on Linux…

Read the review →

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 →
  1. foobar2000Audio Player Software 9.3Free plan
  2. ElisaAudio Player Software 8.1Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • foobar2000 — where it wins

    • Plays many audio formats, with more available through components or FFmpeg
    • Combines gapless playback, ReplayGain, tagging, and audio conversion
    • Supports internet radio and several network playback and share protocols

    Where it doesn't

    • Interface layout customization is limited to Windows and macOS
    • Linux support is through Wine rather than a listed native platform
    • Its focus is audio playback, not general-purpose video playback

  • 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

More comparisons

All audio player software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update