AudaciousLinux
vs
Nullsoft WinampWindows
Audacious as a Linux alternative to Nullsoft Winamp
Updated
Our verdict
Audacious is a solid replacement for Nullsoft Winamp for users who want a lightweight, Winamp‑style player on Linux. It supports the same core features—MP3, AAC, OGG, FLAC playback, playlists, CD audio, internet radio, Winamp Classic skins, a graphical equalizer, and plugin‑based extensions—while keeping CPU and memory usage low. It is ideal for people who prefer a minimal, efficient player rather than a feature‑heavy desktop application.
- License
- BSD-2-Clause
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 4.6.2 (October 19, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Supports Winamp Classic skins
- Includes a graphical equalizer with presets
- Allows drag‑and‑drop of files and folders
- Handles MP3, AAC, OGG, FLAC and CD audio
- Supports internet radio streams
What is different
- No native support for Winamp’s proprietary playlist (.pls) and library (.wpl) formats
- Lacks the advanced visualizations that were available in older Winamp versions
- Does not include the original Winamp “Track Selection” or “Auto‑Save” playlist features
- No built‑in support for Winamp’s “skins” beyond the classic skin set
- Does not provide a bundled skin editor; skins must be edited manually or with third‑party tools
Opening your Nullsoft Winamp files
Audacious can open standard audio files that Winamp played, but it does not read Winamp’s proprietary playlist (.pls) or library (.wpl) files directly. Users can export playlists from Winamp to a standard M3U format and then import that into Audacious. For library metadata, Audacious will read ID3 tags from files but has no built‑in migration tool for Winamp’s library database.
Switching from Nullsoft Winamp to Audacious, step by step
- Export your Winamp playlists to M3U format via the playlist menu.
- Install Audacious from your distribution’s package manager or Flathub.
- Import the M3U files into Audacious using the File → Import menu.
- Re‑apply any Winamp Classic skins by downloading the skin files and placing them in ~/.config/audacious/skins/
- Configure the equalizer and plugins as desired in the Preferences dialog.
Key features of Audacious
- Supports Winamp Classic skins
- Graphical equalizer with presets
- Plugin system for lyrics, VU meters, and more
- Drag and drop file and folder support
- CD audio playback and streaming support
- Modern Qt/GTK interface option
- Low memory and CPU usage
- Extensive audio format support via plugins
How to install Audacious on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.atheme.audacioussudo apt install audacioussudo apt install audacioussudo dnf install audacioussudo pacman -S audacioussudo zypper install audaciousFrequently asked questions
Does Audacious support Winamp skins?
Yes, it can use Winamp Classic skins. Place the skin files in ~/.config/audacious/skins/ and select them in the Preferences → Skins tab.
Can I use my existing Winamp playlist files?
Audacious can open M3U playlists exported from Winamp, but it does not read Winamp’s proprietary .pls or .wpl files directly.
Is Audacious as lightweight as Winamp?
Audacious is designed to be lightweight; it uses less memory and CPU than most modern media players, similar to Winamp’s low‑resource profile.
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