HarunaLinux
vs
VLCWindows
Haruna as a Linux alternative to VLC
Updated
Our verdict
Haruna can replace VLC for users who mainly play local files and want a lightweight player with custom keyboard shortcuts and online video support. It lacks many of VLC’s advanced features such as full streaming protocol support, transcoding, and extensive subtitle management, so it is best suited for casual users who do not need those capabilities.
- License
- GPL-3.0-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 1.8.1 (May 19, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both are free, open‑source media players available on Linux
- Both support playing local video and audio files
- Both allow keyboard shortcut customization
- Both receive regular updates
- Both can be installed via Flatpak and native package managers
What is different
- Haruna does not support the full range of streaming protocols that VLC does (e.g., RTSP, MMS, HTTP live streaming)
- Haruna lacks built‑in transcoding and advanced audio/video filters
- Haruna’s subtitle handling is limited; it does not support external subtitle files as robustly as VLC
- Haruna does not provide a comprehensive playlist editor or advanced playback features like repeat or shuffle
- Haruna’s interface is minimal and may not expose all media information that VLC shows
Opening your VLC files
Haruna opens standard media files (MP4, MKV, MP3, etc.) without needing extra codecs, similar to VLC. It does not import or export VLC‑specific playlist or configuration files, so users cannot directly migrate playlists or settings from VLC to Haruna.
Switching from VLC to Haruna, step by step
- 1. Install Haruna via your distribution’s package manager or Flatpak.
- 2. Export any VLC playlists you need (File → Save Playlist to File).
- 3. Open the exported playlist in Haruna or rebuild it manually.
- 4. Recreate any custom keyboard shortcuts in Haruna’s settings.
- 5. Test playback of your media library to confirm compatibility.
Key features of Haruna
- Plays local and online videos, including YouTube via youtube‑dl
- Supports YouTube playlists and auto‑skips chapters containing specific words
- Mouse‑over playlist toggle and overlay on video
- Configurable shortcuts and mouse buttons
- Quick jump to next chapter with middle‑click on progress bar
- Open source, GPL‑3.0‑or‑later license
- Available as Flatpak, Arch, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, Ubuntu
How to install Haruna on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.kde.harunasudo apt install harunasudo apt install harunasudo dnf install harunasudo pacman -S harunasudo zypper install harunaFrequently asked questions
Does Haruna support online streaming from services like YouTube?
Yes, Haruna uses youtube‑dl to play YouTube videos and playlists, and it can auto‑skip chapters containing specified words.
Can I use Haruna to transcode videos?
No, Haruna does not provide transcoding or format conversion features; it only plays media.
Will Haruna display subtitles from external .srt files?
Haruna can load external subtitle files, but its subtitle support is more limited compared to VLC’s extensive subtitle handling.
4 other alternatives to VLC
mpvmpv is a free, open‑source, cross‑platform media player that plays almost any video or audio format.Open sourceFreeFlatpakmpv vs VLC
CelluloidCelluloid is a lightweight media player for Linux that uses the mpv engine and GTK for a clean GNOME‑style…Open sourceFreeFlatpakCelluloid vs VLC
SMPlayerSMPlayer is a free, open-source media player with built-in codecs that handles nearly all video and audio…Open sourceFreeFlatpakSMPlayer vs VLC
TotemTotem (GNOME Videos) is the default GNOME video player built on GStreamer.Open sourceFreeTotem vs VLC