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Head-to-head · Media Player Software

mpv vs SMPlayer

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score mpv #2 in Media Player Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit mpv
SMPlayer #4 in Media Player Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit SMPlayer

mpv leads on 0 checks, SMPlayer on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorempv · 9.1/10
  • Free planboth

mpv scores higher on our rubric for media player software: 9.1 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

mpv is the better fit for power users who value scripting and control. SMPlayer is the better fit for free open-source desktop playback.

  • mpv fits best

    Power users who value scripting and control

  • SMPlayer fits best

    Free open-source desktop playback

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Side by side

Feature mpv 9.1/10 Visit ↗ SMPlayer 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 8.8
Ranking #2 in Media Player Software #4 in Media Player Software
Best for Power users who value scripting and control Free open-source desktop playback
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features mpv 4/4 · SMPlayer 4/4
Network playback ✓ ✓
Subtitle support ✓ ✓
Hardware acceleration ✓ ✓
4K playback ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android Windows, Linux, macOS
Format support Matroska (MKV), MP4 AVI, ASF/WMV/WMA, QT/MOV/MP4, RealAudio/RealVideo, Ogg/OGM, Matroska, MPEG-1/2, H.264, MPEG-4, MP3, AAC, AC3, DTS, and more
License model Free Free
Our review
Pros
  • Broad media, codec, subtitle, and network playback support
  • Lua and user-script support with configurable playback behavior
  • OpenGL, Vulkan, D3D11, and hardware video decoding support
  • Built-in codecs support a broad range of audio and video formats
  • Streams network media and supports YouTube and Chromecast playback
  • Remembers playback settings and offers subtitle and speed controls
Cons
  • Command-line orientation can be less approachable for casual viewers
  • Minimal on-screen controller offers fewer built-in controls
  • Many platform binaries are provided by third parties
  • Focused on desktop platforms rather than mobile playback
  • Hardware-acceleration information reflects older support terminology
  • Advanced features may require navigating a broad settings set
Our verdict

mpv is a free, open-source media player built around command-line playback and configurable behavior. It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, making it suitable for power users who want a consistent player across major desktop…

Read the review →

SMPlayer is a free, open-source desktop media player and graphical interface for MPlayer and mpv. It supports Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it a fit for users who want one playback tool across common desktop operating systems. Built-in…

Read the review →
  1. mpvMedia Player Software 9.1Free plan
  2. SMPlayerMedia Player Software 8.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • mpv — where it wins

    • Broad media, codec, subtitle, and network playback support
    • Lua and user-script support with configurable playback behavior
    • OpenGL, Vulkan, D3D11, and hardware video decoding support

    Where it doesn't

    • Command-line orientation can be less approachable for casual viewers
    • Minimal on-screen controller offers fewer built-in controls
    • Many platform binaries are provided by third parties

  • SMPlayer — where it wins

    • Built-in codecs support a broad range of audio and video formats
    • Streams network media and supports YouTube and Chromecast playback
    • Remembers playback settings and offers subtitle and speed controls

    Where it doesn't

    • Focused on desktop platforms rather than mobile playback
    • Hardware-acceleration information reflects older support terminology
    • Advanced features may require navigating a broad settings set

More comparisons

All media player software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update