CelluloidLinux
vs
VLCWindows
Celluloid as a Linux alternative to VLC
Updated
Our verdict
Celluloid is a solid replacement for VLC if you prioritize a clean, native GNOME experience over raw feature bloat. It handles nearly all common audio and video formats via the mpv engine, which is highly efficient. However, it lacks VLC’s built-in streaming server and complex transcoding tools. If you just want to play files and manage playlists without configuring external servers or using obscure codecs, Celluloid is excellent. If you rely on VLC’s network streaming capabilities or advanced scripting, you will need to look elsewhere or use mpv directly.
- License
- GPL-3.0+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 0.30 (March 28, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Plays virtually all common audio and video formats without needing extra codec packs
- Supports external subtitle files and basic subtitle rendering
- Offers keyboard shortcuts for playback control, seeking, and volume adjustment
- Provides playlist management for organizing multiple media files
- Is free, open-source software with active development and regular updates
What is different
- Lacks built-in network streaming server functionality found in VLC
- Does not offer a built-in transcoding interface for converting file formats
- Interface is strictly GTK/GNOME-themed, lacking the highly customizable widget layout of VLC
- Relies on the mpv engine, which may handle some obscure legacy formats differently than VLC’s libavcodec
- Missing advanced scripting capabilities and extensive plugin architecture
Opening your VLC files
Celluloid opens the same media file formats as VLC, including MP4, MKV, AVI, MP3, FLAC, and OGG. It can also load external subtitle files (SRT, ASS, SSA). It does not open VLC-specific playlist files (.m3u8 or .xspf) in the same way VLC does, though it supports standard M3U playlists. Exporting or transcoding files is not a feature of Celluloid, so you cannot convert files within the app as you can in VLC.
Switching from VLC to Celluloid, step by step
- Install Celluloid via your package manager or Flathub
- Copy your external subtitle files to the same directory as your media or configure the subtitle path in mpv.conf
- Set up your preferred keyboard shortcuts in the mpv configuration file if the defaults do not suit you
- Import your existing M3U playlists into Celluloid via the playlist menu
- Test playback of your most demanding video files to ensure hardware acceleration is working
- Remove VLC if you no longer need its streaming or transcoding features
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 install flathub io.github.celluloid_player.Celluloidsudo apt install celluloidsudo apt install celluloidsudo dnf install celluloidsudo pacman -S celluloidsudo zypper install celluloidFrequently asked questions
Can Celluloid stream media over a network like VLC?
No, Celluloid does not have a built-in streaming server. It can play network streams (HTTP, RTSP) as a client, but it cannot broadcast or serve media to other devices.
Is Celluloid faster than VLC?
Celluloid uses the mpv engine, which is generally more lightweight and efficient than VLC’s engine. It often uses less CPU and RAM for the same playback task, making it snappier on older hardware.
Can I customize the interface heavily?
Not as much as VLC. Celluloid follows GNOME Human Interface Guidelines, so the layout is fixed. You can change themes and load mpv configuration files for playback behavior, but you cannot rearrange buttons or add custom widgets.
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