Clementine Music PlayerLinux
vs
MediaMonkeyWindows
Clementine Music Player as a Linux alternative to MediaMonkey
Updated
Our verdict
Clementine is a solid replacement for MediaMonkey if you primarily manage local music libraries, tag files, and play audio across formats. It handles large libraries well and offers solid metadata editing, smart playlists, and device sync for MTP and mass-storage players. However, it lacks some advanced MediaMonkey features like deep podcast management and advanced syncing rules. Linux users who value simplicity and fast access to local and cloud music will find it effective, but those relying heavily on MediaMonkey's automation or extensive podcast tools may need to adjust.
- License
- GPL-3.0+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 1.4.0rc2 (April 23, 2020)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both support large audio libraries with fast search and browsing
- Tag editing for MP3 and OGG files, including fetching from MusicBrainz
- Support for multiple audio formats including MP3, FLAC, Ogg, AAC
- Playlist import/export (M3U, XSPF, PLS, ASX)
- Synchronization with USB and MTP devices
What is different
- Clementine lacks MediaMonkey’s advanced podcast organization and automation
- No built-in CD ripping; MediaMonkey includes full CD support
- Clementine has no native support for Windows Media Player playlists (WPL)
- MediaMonkey offers more granular library filtering and rules-based playlists
- Clementine dropped Grooveshark and Magnatune support after service shutdowns
Opening your MediaMonkey files
Clementine can import playlists from M3U, XSPF, PLS, and ASX formats, which MediaMonkey can export to, making playlist transfer straightforward. However, it cannot directly read MediaMonkey’s proprietary database files (.mmdb). You’ll need to rebuild the library from your music folder. Tagged metadata in MP3 and OGG files will carry over correctly. Any custom fields used by MediaMonkey beyond standard ID3 tags may not transfer.
Switching from MediaMonkey to Clementine Music Player, step by step
- Export playlists from MediaMonkey as M3U or XSPF
- Copy your music files to the Linux system, preserving folder structure
- Launch Clementine and set the music folder to the copied directory
- Import playlists via File > Open Playlist
- Use Tools > Tag Editor to fix or enhance metadata as needed
- Enable device sync in Clementine under Devices for MTP or USB players
Key features of Clementine Music Player
- Search and play local library
- Internet radio from Spotify, Soundcloud, Icecast, Subsonic
- Cloud integration (Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive)
- Smart and dynamic playlists
- Tag editing and transcode to MP3/Ogg/FLAC/AAC
- Lyrics, album art, and visualisations
- M3U/XSPF/PLS/ASX import/export
- Remote control via MPRIS or Android
How to install Clementine Music Player on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.clementine_player.ClementineFrequently asked questions
Can Clementine edit album art and lyrics like MediaMonkey?
Yes, Clementine can view, edit, and download missing album art from Last.fm and Amazon. It fetches lyrics automatically and displays artist bios, similar to MediaMonkey’s basic features.
Does Clementine support iPods and iPhones?
Yes, Clementine can copy music to iPods and iPhones, though it doesn’t support syncing playlists or metadata updates on iOS devices as deeply as iTunes or MediaMonkey.
Is Clementine still actively maintained?
The latest stable release is from 2020, and while there’s no frequent development, it remains stable and functional on modern Linux systems. Some users have moved to alternatives like Strawberry, a fork with ongoing updates.
2 other alternatives to MediaMonkey
RhythmboxRhythmbox is GNOME's default music player, designed to manage and play local and streaming audio with plugin…Open sourceFreeFlatpakRhythmbox vs MediaMonkey
Quod LibetQuod Libet is an open‑source music manager and player for Linux with powerful tag editing and flexible…Open sourceFreeFlatpakQuod Libet vs MediaMonkey