1
Distrobox
distrobox.itAlso covers git and linux · same kind of website
Distrobox runs Linux distributions inside containers and provides documentation and downloads.
Alternatives
The Best Pipewire Alternatives in 2026
24 alternatives1 free · 13 open source
Looking for something like Pipewire? 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 13 are open source.
PipeWire handles audio and video on Linux, with project documentation describing its media framework.
Top picks at a glance
First suggestionDistroboxDistrobox runs Linux distributions inside containers and…Free or freemium optionCurtailCurtail compresses PNG, JPEG, WebP, and SVG images…Open source optionYouTube-ViewerSearch and play YouTube videos on Linux using…Another optionugrepugrep searches files by pattern as a compatible grep…
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Distrobox | — | Not stated | Linux, Web |
| 2 | ugrep | — | Not stated | Android, Linux, macOS |
| 3 | MOC | — | Not stated | Linux, Web |
| 4 | Terminal Guide | — | Not stated | Linux, Web |
| 5 | Linux Command Library | — | Not stated | Android, iOS, Linux |
| 6 | Plan9Port | — | Not stated | Linux, macOS, Web |
| 7 | Trimage | — | Not stated | Linux, macOS, Web |
| 8 | nb | — | Not stated | Linux, macOS, Web |
| 9 | wpgtk | — | Not stated | Linux, Web |
| 10 | YouTube-Viewer | — | Yes | Linux |
All Pipewire alternatives
2
ugrep
ugrep.comAlso covers git and linux · same kind of website
ugrep searches files by pattern as a compatible grep replacement, with interactive and fuzzy search modes listed in its documentation.
3
MOC
moc.daper.netAlso covers git and linux · same kind of website
MOC plays music through a text console on Linux and Unix systems, according to its project page.
4
Terminal Guide
terminal.guideAlso covers git and linux · same kind of website
Terminal Guide provides learning materials for Linux commands, Git, and shell scripting.
5
Linux Command Library
linuxcommandlibrary.comAlso covers git and linux · same kind of website
Linux Command Library provides command references and cheat sheets for system control, recovery, and other topics.
6
Plan9Port
9fans.github.io/plan9portAlso covers git and linux · same kind of website
Plan 9 from User Space provides information and resources for running Plan 9 software on Unix systems.
7
Trimage
trimage.orgAlso covers git and linux · same kind of website
Trimage losslessly optimizes PNG and JPG images for web use, according to its project description.
8
nb
xwmx.github.io/nbAlso covers git and linux · same kind of website
nb combines command-line and local web tools for plain-text notes, bookmarks, archives, and knowledge-base content.
9
wpgtk
deviantfero.github.io/wpgtkAlso covers git and linux · same kind of website
wpgtk generates color schemes and manages wallpapers, with theme tools listed on its project page.
10
Also covers git and linux · open source
Search and play YouTube videos on Linux using youtube-viewer, according to its project description.
11
Also covers git and linux · open source
pipe-viewer searches and plays YouTube videos from Linux, according to its project description.
12
Also covers git and linux · open source
zx helps write scripts in JavaScript with shell-command support, according to its project page.
13
Also covers git and linux · open source
DidYouMean corrects spelling from the command line when users are unsure how a word is written.
14
Also covers git and linux · open source
Atuin synchronizes, searches, and backs up shell history with end-to-end encryption on macOS, Linux, and Windows.
15
Also covers git and linux · open source
Cattail provides an unofficial client for Tailscale and Headscale on Linux and Windows.
16
adbfs-rootless
github.com/spion/adbfs-rootlessAlso covers git and linux
adbfs-rootless mounts Android phones on Linux through adb without requiring root access on the phone.
17
Also covers git and linux · open source
LiveCaptions displays live captions on the Linux desktop, according to its repository.
18
Also covers git and linux · open source
dvm manages Discord versions on Linux, letting users install and switch between versions.
19
spotify-adblock
github.com/abba23/spotify-adblockAlso covers git and linux
spotify-adblock blocks requests to listed ad URLs in the Linux Spotify client.
20
Also covers git and linux · open source · free
Curtail compresses PNG, JPEG, WebP, and SVG images, according to its repository description.
21
Also covers git and linux · open source
dijo tracks habits from a terminal and supports scripting and integration with external tools.
22
Also covers git and linux · open source
Wike brings Wikipedia search and article reading to the GNOME desktop through a dedicated reader application.
23
Also covers git and linux · open source
Macfetch displays system information on macOS as a Neofetch alternative written in Rust.
24
Also covers git and linux · open source
ytermusic plays YouTube Music from a terminal interface, with a text-based user interface described by its project.
No alternatives match this filter.
Alternatives to similar tools
zx24 alternativesDidYouMean24 alternativesYouTube-Viewer24 alternativesPipe Viewer24 alternativesdijo24 alternativesWike24 alternatives
What is the best alternative to Pipewire?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to Pipewire are Distrobox, ugrep, and MOC.
Is there a free alternative to Pipewire?
Yes. Curtail is free or offer a free plan.
Are there open-source alternatives to Pipewire?
Yes: YouTube-Viewer, Pipe Viewer, zx, and DidYouMean.
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