Side by side
Music Player Daemon vs SMPlayer
Both stand on media 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 AndroidAPILinux+3
Choose MPD if you want a free, configurable music server that can be controlled by a separate network client and work with remote storage. Consider its client/server setup and default network permissions when deciding whether it fits your environment.
Visit Music Player Daemon
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
SMPlayer combines broad playback support with controls for subtitles, speed, and audio or video adjustments. Its listed versions cover desktop platforms, and the player is free and open source under GPL.
Visit SMPlayerThe facts
| Music Player Daemon | SMPlayer | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | musicpd.org | smplayer.info |
| On media player software | #11 of 76 | #7 of 76 |
Music Player Daemon: what it does well
- Free software distributed under the GPL.
- Plays WAV, AIFF, AAC, FLAC, DSDIFF, DSF, MP3, and FFmpeg codecs.
- Storage plugins can combine remote servers into a virtual music directory.
- Offers command-line, web, graphical, mobile, and voice clients.
- Supports configurable playback plugins, ReplayGain, and cross-fading.
What to know first
- Requires a separate client or interface for control.
- Clients have full permissions without authentication by default.
- The project describes its Android build as experimental.
- Official Debian packages are labeled outdated and unsupported.
SMPlayer: what it does well
- Built-in codecs play most audio and video formats.
- Supports network playback, subtitles, and 4K playback.
- Remembers playback position and selected settings.
- Can send local videos and online streams to Chromecast.
- Available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
What to know first
- Listed desktop platforms are limited to Windows, Linux, and macOS.
- The website uses Google Analytics and AdSense cookies.
- The privacy policy says submitted form and email information is collected.
Alternatives to Music Player Daemon Alternatives to SMPlayer The whole list