The term lightweight is a label attached to computer software which is relatively simpler or faster than its counterparts. Feature bloat is endemic in software especially commercial software. Often, the easiest way to persuade users to upgrade to the latest version is to add new spangly features. This happens with open source software (to a lesser degree), and open source music software is not immune to feature bloat. Music players can often seem to be designed for everything except actually listening to music with tons of bloat that you do not actually need.

The purpose of this article is to identify the finest open source audio players that are designed to make the important part – the listening experience – to be a pleasure without all of the feature bloat.

We have included lean players with attractive graphical user interfaces, as well as console based software, so there should be something here for all types of users.

Now, let’s explore the 6 lightweight audio players at hand. For each title we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, together with links to relevant resources and reviews.

Lightweight Music Players Musique Small but sophisticated graphical music player Sayonara Player Small, clear and fast Qt audio player DeadBeeF Billed as the ultimate music player Pogo Extremely simple and fast player Music on Console Full-screen audio player designed to be powerful and easy to use CMus Lightweight ncurses audio player

Return to our complete collection of recommended free and open source software including our latest additions.

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