Side by side
Next Player vs SMPlayer
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 Android
Choose Next Player if you want a free Android or Android TV player with broad format support, subtitle options, and network playback. Its project notes that development is ongoing and bugs may occur, so users seeking a mature product may prefer another option.
Visit Next Player
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
| Next Player | SMPlayer | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | smplayer.info |
| On video player software | #33 of 42 | #29 of 42 |
Next Player: what it does well
- Free and open source under GNU GPL v3.0, with no ads.
- Supports AV1 video and FLAC audio, among many listed formats.
- Plays SRT, SSA, ASS, TTML, VTT, and DVB subtitles.
- Includes speed control, picture-in-picture, and background playback.
- Supports SMB, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and URL playback.
What to know first
- Available on Android and Android TV only.
- Format support can depend partly on the Android device.
- The project says it is still in development and may have bugs.
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 Next Player Alternatives to SMPlayer The whole list