1
Also covers git, linux, and media · same kind of open-source project
Synchronize subtitles automatically for mpv with AutoSubSync MPV, which lists ffsubsync and alass as supported backends.
Alternatives
The Best CatNip Alternatives in 2026
24 alternatives1 free · 22 open source
Looking for something like CatNip? Here are 24 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 1 are free or have a free plan and 22 are open source.
CatNip provides a terminal audio visualizer for Linux, Unix, macOS, and Windows.
Top picks at a glance
First suggestionAutoSubSync MPVSynchronize subtitles automatically for mpv with…Free or freemium optionSMTubeSMTube browses, searches, and plays YouTube videos through…Another optionVideoClipVideoClip creates video and audio clips with mpv, saving…
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AutoSubSync MPV | — | Yes | Linux, Windows |
| 2 | VideoClip | — | Yes | Linux |
| 3 | Ledfx | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | SyncWatch | — | Yes | Browser extension |
| 5 | DockSTARTer | — | Yes | — |
| 6 | Musikcube | — | Yes | Android, Linux, macOS |
| 7 | SMTube | Free | Not stated | Linux, Web, Windows |
| 8 | YAMS | — | Not stated | Web |
| 9 | Rmpc | — | Yes | — |
| 10 | Astra | — | Yes | — |
All CatNip alternatives
2
Also covers git, linux, and media · same kind of open-source project
VideoClip creates video and audio clips with mpv, saving them as MP4 or WebM and allowing subtitles to be embedded.
3
Also covers git and open source · same kind of open-source project
LedFx generates real-time audio effects for supported network-connected LED devices.
4
Also covers git and open source · same kind of open-source project
Watch videos in sync with friends using SyncWatch, a browser extension that lists support for Firefox, Chrome, and Opera.
5
Also covers git and open source · same kind of open-source project
DockSTARTer helps configure a system for running apps in Docker, with setup guidance and options to use it as a starting point for Docker configuration.
6
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
Musikcube combines a terminal music player with an audio engine, metadata indexer, and server in C++.
7
Also covers git, linux, and media · free
SMTube browses, searches, and plays YouTube videos through a media player such as SMPlayer.
8
YAMS
yams.mediaAlso covers git and media
YAMS provides a media server installation script described as easy to install through a Bash script.
9
Also covers media and open source · same kind of open-source project
Control MPD from a configurable terminal client with rmpc, which supports album art via terminal image protocols.
10
Also covers media and open source · same kind of open-source project
Astra plays music with gapless playback, parametric EQ, AutoEQ import, and real-time DSP visualizers.
11
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
Jellyfin Desktop is a desktop client built with Qt WebEngine and libmpv, with downloads listed for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
12
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
Play media on Windows, Linux, or macOS with SMPlayer, which also supports YouTube.
13
Also covers linux and open source · same kind of open-source project
Quod Libet is a music player and library manager for Linux, Windows, and macOS.
14
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
Flower’s MPV Config provides mpv settings for movies, TV, and anime, with scripts that include a manga reader and playback tools.
15
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
Museeks provides a cross-platform music player with a simple interface, according to its project description.
16
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
mpv-webm adds a simple WebM creation script to mpv without external dependencies.
17
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
MoonPlayer plays online videos from YouTube and Bilibili, can download them, and also opens local videos.
18
Also covers linux and open source · same kind of open-source project
Swing Music is a self-hosted player for local audio files, according to its project description.
19
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
Streamlink pipes streams from supported services into a media player through its command-line utility and Python library.
20
Also covers linux and open source · same kind of open-source project
Fladder provides a cross-platform frontend for Jellyfin, built with Flutter.
21
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
ThumbFast generates on-the-fly thumbnails for mpv and is designed to work alongside an interface script.
22
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
xTeVe proxies M3U playlists for Plex DVR and Emby Live TV, with options to merge and update M3U and XMLTV files.
23
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
Jellyfin Vue offers an experimental alternative browser client for Jellyfin, written in Vue.js and marked as not feature-complete.
24
Also covers linux, media, and open source · same kind of open-source project
mpv-autosub automatically downloads subtitles when opening a video if suitable subtitles are not already present.
No alternatives match this filter.
Alternatives to similar tools
Swingmusic24 alternativesjellyfin-desktop24 alternativesJellyfin Vue24 alternativesMusikcube24 alternativesAutoSubSync MPV24 alternativesDockSTARTer24 alternatives
TopicMedia Players & Servers · 194 sites Best-of listBest Free Media Players: 8 Choices for Files, Subtitles and TV ListingCatNip details
What is the best alternative to CatNip?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to CatNip are AutoSubSync MPV, VideoClip, and Ledfx.
Is there a free alternative to CatNip?
Yes. SMTube is free or offer a free plan.
Are there open-source alternatives to CatNip?
Yes: AutoSubSync MPV, VideoClip, Ledfx, and SyncWatch.
Alternatives are suggested from the purpose and features described in our listings. Different pages for the same product appear once. Read each description to check whether it fits your task. How we choose alternatives · Suggest an alternative