Celluloid as a Linux alternative to MPC-HC
Updated
Our verdict
Celluloid can serve as a solid replacement for MPC‑HC for users who want a lightweight, GNOME‑style player that supports most common video and audio formats. It is ideal for Linux desktop users who prefer a simple interface, low resource usage, and the ability to use external mpv configuration files. It will satisfy the needs of most MPC‑HC users, though those who rely on Windows‑specific features or deep customization may find some gaps.
Feature parity 85%
- License
- GPL-3.0+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 0.30 (March 28, 2026)
- Rating
- —

What works the same
- Both use a lightweight playback engine (mpv for Celluloid, libmpv/ffmpeg for MPC‑HC) and support a wide range of video and audio formats.
- Both allow drag‑and‑drop playlist creation and manage multiple tracks such as subtitles and external audio streams.
- Both provide keyboard shortcuts for basic playback control and can be configured via external configuration files.
- Both support MPRIS2 for integration with desktop media controls.
- Both are open‑source and free to use.
- differences
What is different
Key features of Celluloid
- mpv‑based playback engine
- GTK+ interface following GNOME HIG
- Drag‑and‑drop playlist support
- External mpv config file loading
- MPRIS2 D‑Bus control
- Keyboard shortcuts for play/pause, seek, volume
- Playlist management
- MPRIS2 media player controls
How to install Celluloid on Linux
Flatpak (Flathub)
flatpak install flathub io.github.celluloid_player.CelluloidUbuntu / Mint
sudo apt install celluloidDebian
sudo apt install celluloidFedora
sudo dnf install celluloidArch / Manjaro
sudo pacman -S celluloidopenSUSE
sudo zypper install celluloid4 other alternatives to MPC-HC
Rate Celluloid
Be the first to rate
Is it a good replacement for MPC-HC?
8