Best Open-Source Media & Creativity Apps
This ranking highlights 10 open-source media and creativity apps, ordered by GitHub stars. OBS Studio leads with 73,675 stars, offering video recording and streaming capabilities across Linux, macOS, and Windows. Other notable entries include lx-music-desktop and Spotube, both exceeding 47,000 stars and supporting multiple platforms. These tools cater to creators focused on audio, video, and music streaming, with licenses ranging from GPL to MIT. Each app provides cross-platform compatibility, with some like iina being macOS-exclusive and others like MusicFree designed for Android.
| # | App | Stars | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OBS Studio | 73.8k | GPL-2.0 |
| 2 | lx-music-desktop | 52.1k | Apache-2.0 |
| 3 | Spotube | 47.5k | NOASSERTION |
| 4 | iina | 45.5k | GPL-3.0 |
| 5 | YesPlayMusic | 33.0k | MIT |
| 6 | YouTube Music | 32.7k | MIT |
| 7 | pear-desktop | 32.7k | MIT |
| 8 | MusicFree | 25.6k | AGPL-3.0 |
| 9 | nuclear | 18.0k | AGPL-3.0 |
| 10 | lx-music-mobile | 17.5k | Apache-2.0 |
OBS Studio is a free, open-source application for live streaming and screen recording. It supports multiple sources and real-time mixing for professional-quality broadcasts. The software is widely used for content creation and streaming across various platforms.
lx-music-desktop is an Electron-based music application. It provides audio playback functionality through a desktop interface.
Spotube is an open-source music streaming application designed for desktop and mobile platforms. It provides a streamlined way to listen to music without ads or subscriptions. The app is community-driven and free to use.
iINA is a modern video player designed specifically for macOS. It offers a clean interface and smooth playback for various video formats.
A third-party NetEase Cloud Music player with an attractive interface, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Built using Electron.
YouTube Music is a media player extension that enhances music playback functionality. It integrates with existing music platforms for an improved listening experience. The tool focuses on streamlined access and playback features.
Pear is an extension for music players that adds additional functionality. It enhances music playback with customizable features.
MusicFree is a customizable music player that operates through plugins and offers an ad-free listening experience. It provides users with flexibility in tailoring their music playback environment.
Nuclear is a streaming music player that searches for and plays free music from various online sources. It provides a simple interface for discovering and listening to tracks without requiring subscriptions or payments.
A mobile music app developed with React Native. It provides music playback and streaming features. The interface is designed for ease of use on mobile devices.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the top pick in “Best Open-Source Media & Creativity Apps”?
- OBS Studio currently leads this list, which is ordered by GitHub stars among the 10 open-source options we track.
- Are these apps free?
- Yes. Every app on this list is free and open-source. Download links point to each project's official release.
- How is this ranking decided?
- The order reflects GitHub stars, a public measure of popularity. Data is pulled from official sources and last refreshed on Jul 6, 2026. We don't accept payment for placement.
How we rank:entries are ordered by GitHub stars, a public popularity signal. Versions, licenses and platform support are read from official release feeds. We don't accept payment for inclusion or position. Supported platforms reflect the latest release (macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, Android).