MediaElement.js vs mpv
MediaElement.js
mediaelementjs.commpv
mpv.ioSide by side
| Figure | MediaElement.js | mpv |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Video Player Software | 8.4 (#8) | 8.5 (#6) |
| License | The project repository identifies the software license as MIT. | mpv is GPLv2 or later by default, with an LGPLv2.1-or-later option when built with -Dgpl=false. |
| Media formats | The project describes support for MP4, WebM, MP3, HLS and DASH media. | It supports a wide variety of media file formats. |
| Media support | The site lists MP4 and MP3 media files, HLS and MPEG-DASH streams, and embedded players including YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch, DailyMotion, Facebook, and SoundCloud. | It supports a wide variety of media file formats, audio and video codecs, and subtitle types. |
| Product | MediaElement.js is an HTML5 audio and video library that provides a unified player interface across browsers. | mpv is a free, open source, cross-platform command-line media player. |
| Support | The product site directs users with accessibility concerns to create an issue on GitHub. | The project directs users to IRC, GitHub Discussions, the issue tracker, and its wiki for questions, bugs, and scripts. |
Plans
In their own words
MediaElement.js
MediaElement.js is an HTML5 audio and video library for presenting media through a common player interface across browsers. It includes an HTML and CSS player and a shared MediaElement API. Supported media includes MP4, WebM, MP3, HLS and DASH; embedded sources include YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch, DailyMotion, Facebook and SoundCloud. The product site says its video player meets WCAG 2.1, BITV 2.0 and EN 301 549 accessibility requirements. Captions, subtitles and chapters can use HTML track elements with SRT or VTT files. For cross-browser caption handling, those files must be hosted on the same domain as the player. Installation options include a package, CDN, Git, npm, Bower and Meteor, with usage guidance for JavaScript, jQuery, RequireJS and React. The project also documents WordPress and Drupal integration. It supports browser versions including IE11+, Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Safari, as well as iOS 8+ and Android 4.0+. The library is MIT-licensed and free; add-ons include Chromecast, AirPlay, playlists, ads and playback speed control.
mpv
mpv is a free, open-source command-line media player for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. It plays a wide range of media formats, audio and video codecs, and subtitle types, including Matroska (MKV) and MP4, with network playback and 4K playback support. Its interface is deliberately limited: there is no full graphical interface, only a small on-screen controller for basic playback. Video output is based on OpenGL, Vulkan, and D3D11, with scaling, color management, frame timing, interpolation, and HDR features. mpv can use hardware decoding APIs on its supported platforms, and decoding can be switched on while the player is running. Scripts and user-created scripts can extend its behavior; developers can also use its C API to embed it in other applications. The project is actively developed. The default license is GPLv2 or later, with LGPLv2.1 or later available for builds configured with -Dgpl=false. Only the latest stable release receives security updates.