VLC media player
Open Sourceby VideoLAN
Plays virtually any media file, on any platform, with no codec packs.
- Plays almost every audio and video format
- No external codecs required
- Streams network and online media
3 Best Free Media Players Software for Linux in 2026
Video and music players that handle virtually any codec or container without hunting for extra codec packs. Every program below runs on Linux.
- 3 Linux programs
- 3 open source
- ₹0 to download
Free media players programs for Linux
mpv
Open Sourceby mpv developers
Minimalist, keyboard-driven, very high quality video player.
- High-quality GPU video output
- Minimal, distraction-free interface
- Highly scriptable and configurable
Kodi
Open Sourceby XBMC Foundation
Turn any computer into a full home-theatre media centre.
- Full-screen home-theatre interface
- Automatic artwork and metadata scraping
- Remote control and mobile app support
Choosing media players software on Linux
All 3 programs listed here have a native Linux build — this is not a list of software that merely "might work" through a compatibility layer. 3 are open source.
Since every option is free, testing two or three on your own files is usually faster and more reliable than reading further comparisons. VLC media player is the most widely adopted of these and a reasonable starting point.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free media players software for Linux?
VLC media player plays virtually any media file, on any platform, with no codec packs. mpv and Kodi are the other most common picks.
Are these really free on Linux?
Yes. Each is labelled with its licence — open source, free, or free tier — so you know exactly what you are getting before you download.
Where do the downloads come from?
The publisher's own website, every time. We host no installers, which is the single most effective protection against the bundled adware that plagues software download portals.