Kaku review
A free desktop player for streaming music from four online services.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Kaku is an open-source desktop music player for people who want one application for streaming music from YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo and MixCloud. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and is distributed under the MIT license. The feature set is aimed at personal listening: users can manage playlists, build a play queue, randomize tracks and review playback history. Chromecast support and an online DJ feature extend its use beyond basic playback, while automatic player updates are included in the documented capabilities.
Its main strength is a focused connection to four online music services rather than a broad desktop media library. The service integrations are built around network playback, with YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo and MixCloud listed as supported sources. Playlist management, queueing, random playback and history give the player practical organization tools, while Chromecast adds a way to send playback to compatible devices. For desktop listeners who already use these services, Kaku brings their streams into a single open-source application.
Kaku is a better fit for users seeking free, open-source online streaming than for those needing local media playback or broader format coverage. The available product details center on network playback and do not establish local playback capabilities. It is also limited to desktop platforms, and the latest official release shown is version 2.0.2 from March 26, 2019. Choose Kaku for its service coverage, playlist tools and Chromecast support; choose an alternative if current release activity, local files or a wider platform footprint are priorities.
Kaku pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Streams from YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo and MixCloud
- Includes playlists, queueing, history and random playback
- Supports Chromecast and automatic player updates
- Where it doesn't
- Focused on online streaming rather than local playback
- Desktop-only, with builds for Windows, macOS and Linux
- Latest official release shown is version 2.0.2 from March 26, 2019
Kaku fact sheet, pricing and score →
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.
Last updated · How we research and update