Quod Libet
Quod Libet: A strong choice for tag-focused music libraries, not general media playback. Ranked #60 of 75 in Media Player Software by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for tag-focused open-source music management.
At a glance
- Editor score3.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTag-focused open-source music management
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Network playbackYes
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Powerful metadata search, batch tagging, and tag-based file renaming
- Supports playlists, Replay Gain, podcasts, radio, and configurable queues
- Runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS with extensive plugin support
Where it doesn't
- Focused on music rather than broad video and general media playback
- macOS listing includes an unofficial build
- Support is centered on community channels and documentation
Our verdict on Quod Libet
Quod Libet is a free, open-source desktop audio player and music library manager for people who organize and play locally stored music. It suits solo users and small teams that want detailed control over tags, filenames, playlists, album art, and library browsing. Playback uses GStreamer and Xine-lib backends, with support for formats including MP3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, Opus, WMA, MIDI, and MPEG-4 AAC. Its focus is music collection management rather than general media playback.
The standout feature is its tag-centric workflow. Metadata can be searched with regular expressions and structured queries, edited in batches, and used for file renaming. Libraries can be browsed by tags or directories, while Replay Gain processing, configurable playback queues, album covers, playlist import and export, Internet radio, and podcasts cover everyday listening needs. Plugins add options for lyrics, scrobbling, MusicBrainz, duplicate detection, and audio processing. This depth makes Quod Libet a good fit for users who maintain detailed local collections and want more control than a basic player provides.
Quod Libet is distributed for Linux, Windows, and macOS as desktop software and is licensed under the GNU GPL version 2 or later. Its ecosystem includes MusicBrainz, CDDB, Last.fm, SoundCloud, Sonos, Logitech Squeezebox, D-Bus, and MQTT integrations. Community support and documentation are the primary support channels. Choose it for free, tag-focused music management with plugins and network playback; choose another category of tool if broad video support or a general-purpose media center is the priority.
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Quod Libet pricing
Quod Libet fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Supported platforms | linux, windows, macos |
| Network playback | Yes |
| Subtitle support | Not verified |
| Format support | MP3, Ogg Vorbis, Speex, Opus, FLAC, Musepack, MOD, XM, IT, WavPack, MPEG-4 AAC, WMA, MIDI, Monkey's Audio |
| Hardware acceleration | Not verified |
| 4K playback | Not verified |
| License model | Free |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, macOS |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: MusicBrainz, CDDB, Last.fm, SoundCloud, Sonos, Logitech Squeezebox … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | quodlibet.readthedocs.io |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Quod Libet integrations
Quod Libet lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- MusicBrainz
- CDDB
- Last.fm
- SoundCloud
- Sonos
- Logitech Squeezebox
- D-Bus
- MQTT
Alternatives to Quod Libet
- VLC media playerA broad, capable free player for local, network, and streamed media across major platforms.9.4
- mpvA flexible, scriptable player for users who prefer control over convenience.9.1
- KMPlayerA broad media player with strong format, network, cloud, and casting support.9.0
See all Quod Libet alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Quod Libet is ranked in 3 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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