Best Video Streaming Applications on Linux: VLC vs MPV vs Celluloid

Linux users have a wide range of media players to choose from, but when it comes to video streaming and playback, VLC, MPV, and Celluloid are among the best. Each of these applications offers unique features and performance optimizations suited for different user needs. In this article, we compare them to help you choose the best option.

1. VLC Media Player

VLC is one of the most popular open-source media players available on multiple platforms, including Linux.

Pros:

• Supports almost all video and audio formats.
• Can stream online media using URLs.
• Highly customizable with skins and extensions.
• Comes with advanced playback controls, including subtitle synchronization.
• Supports hardware acceleration for smooth playback.

Cons:

• Heavier on system resources compared to MPV and Celluloid.
• The UI can feel outdated to some users.

2. MPV Media Player

MPV is a lightweight yet powerful media player derived from MPlayer and mplayer2. It is known for its minimalistic design and advanced video processing capabilities.

Pros:

• Minimalist and distraction-free UI.
• GPU-accelerated video playback with Vulkan, OpenGL, and more.
• Superior video quality with high-end scaling algorithms.
• Powerful command-line interface for advanced users.

Cons:

• Lacks a traditional GUI (relies on keyboard shortcuts and scripts).
• Less intuitive for beginners.

3. Celluloid

Celluloid (formerly GNOME MPV) is a GTK-based front-end for MPV, offering a balance between MPV’s powerful features and an easy-to-use interface.

Pros:

• Clean and simple user interface.
• Retains MPV’s high-quality video playback capabilities.
• Integrates well with GNOME and other GTK-based desktops.
• Supports MPV configuration and scripting.

Cons:

• Limited customization compared to VLC.
• Lacks some advanced features found in MPV’s CLI version.

Comparison Table

Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose VLC if you need an all-in-one media player with built-in streaming, extensive format support, and UI customization.
• Choose MPV if you prioritize high-quality video playback, lightweight performance, and don’t mind using keyboard shortcuts.
• Choose Celluloid if you prefer MPV’s performance but want a user-friendly graphical interface.

Additional Tips:

• Use Hardware Acceleration: Enable hardware acceleration in VLC (Tools > Preferences > Input/Codecs) and MPV (use --hwdec=auto flag) for smoother playback.
• Improve Subtitle Support: VLC and MPV support external subtitle downloads; you can install OpenSubtitles plugin for VLC or use the sub-fetcher script for MPV.
• Streaming from YouTube & Online Sources: MPV allows playing YouTube videos directly with mpv [URL], while VLC supports network streaming under “Media > Open Network Stream.”
• Customize Your Experience: Modify MPV’s mpv.conf or use VLC’s extensive settings to tweak video quality, buffering, and hotkeys.

Conclusion

VLC, MPV, and Celluloid each have their strengths, making them excellent choices for video playback on Linux. If you want a feature-rich player, VLC is the best. For those who need high-performance playback with scripting capabilities, MPV is the way to go. If you prefer an MPV-based GUI, Celluloid is a great compromise.

Sources:

• https://www.videolan.org/vlc/
• https://mpv.io/
• https://github.com/celluloid-player/celluloid