Side by side
Celluloid vs FFplay
Both stand on video player software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Mac
Choose Celluloid if you use a recent Mac and want live webcam filters, image controls, and a virtual camera for video apps. Look elsewhere if you need another operating system or want an installation route that does not involve building with Xcode.
Visit Celluloid Free plan LinuxMacWindows
FFplay provides straightforward playback with FFmpeg-based format support, filters and hardware-decoding options. It is most relevant when the supported formats and command-line controls match your needs, especially since compiled downloads are linked through third parties.
Visit FFplayThe facts
| Celluloid | FFplay | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Mac | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Not published |
| Plans published | 1 | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | ffmpeg.org |
| On video player software | #11 of 42 | #15 of 42 |
Celluloid: what it does well
- Applies built-in filters to webcam video in real time.
- Includes six image adjustment controls.
- Digital zoom spans 1.0x to 4.0x with movable cropping.
- Saves filter, adjustments, zoom, and crop between sessions.
- Works with listed video apps and other camera-input apps.
What to know first
- Available only for macOS.
- Requires macOS 15.0 or later and camera permission.
- Getting started requires building with Xcode.
- Open reports include high battery use and unresponsiveness if a selected camera becomes unavailable.
FFplay: what it does well
- Free on three desktop platforms
- Plays audio and video
- Supports video and audio filtergraphs
- Documents hardware-accelerated decoding
- Covers listed subtitle formats
What to know first
- Time seeking may not be exact
- Compiled executables come from third parties
- Primarily described as an FFmpeg API testbed
- Uses keyboard shortcuts for playback control
Alternatives to Celluloid Alternatives to FFplay The whole list