mpv vs RealPlayer
mpv
mpv.ioRealPlayer
real.comSide by side
| Figure | mpv | RealPlayer |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $4.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 5 |
| Spec score · Media Player Software | 9.1 (#2) | 7.8 (#49) |
| Spec score · Video Player Software | 8.5 (#6) | 7.9 (#17) |
| Product | mpv is a free, open source, cross-platform command-line media player. | RealPlayer 25 is a PC media player and organizer with video downloading, playback, and media library features. |
| Security | Only the most recent stable release receives security updates, and mpv is not designed to be exposed to untrusted environments. | The privacy policy lists SSL connections, database access controls, encryption for sensitive information, and limited employee access as security controls. |
| Support | The project directs users to IRC, GitHub Discussions, the issue tracker, and its wiki for questions, bugs, and scripts. | RealNetworks directs RealPlayer users to its customer support page for customer service, billing, and technical help. |
Plans
RealPlayer
- FreeFree
- RealPlayer Downloader for MacFree
- Premium$4.99 a month
- Downloader Express$24.99, paid once
- Plus$39.99, paid once
In their own words
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.
RealPlayer
RealPlayer 25 is a media player and organizer for downloading, playing, and managing video and other media. Smart Download saves videos from sites including Facebook, Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Users can select file type, codec, and resolution up to 8K, or download MP3 and M4A audio. For YouTube, the product says users can sign in to access private, Watch Later, and Liked videos, download playlists, and subscribe to channels; it can also record live YouTube streams. Playback includes Chromecast casting and support for current codecs, RealAudio, and RealVideo. Library tools organize videos by people, find scenes featuring specific people, remove duplicates, and create playlists. RealPlayer Mobile for iOS and Android adds offline viewing, syncing, cloud backup, and casting. The free plan supports downloads up to 720p, while paid options include Premium at $4.99 a month, Downloader Express at $24.99, paid once, and Plus at $39.99, paid once. Platforms listed include Windows, iOS, Android, and macOS; the Mac downloader is an early release for Apple Silicon on macOS 15 or later.