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kew VS ncmpcpp

Compare kew VS ncmpcpp and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

kew logo kew

A terminal music player for Linux.

ncmpcpp logo ncmpcpp

Ncurses Music Player Client (Plus Plus)
  • kew Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-06-21
  • ncmpcpp Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-22

kew features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

ncmpcpp features and specs

  • Feature-rich
    ncmpcpp offers a wide range of features including a media library, playlist management, cover art display, and support for Last.fm, allowing users extensive control over their music experience.
  • Customizability
    The application allows users to customize its appearance and behavior extensively, making it adaptable to individual preferences and workflows.
  • Lightweight
    ncmpcpp is lightweight and efficient, using minimal system resources while providing powerful features, making it suitable for use on older hardware.
  • Keyboard-Driven Interface
    Designed for keyboard use, ncmpcpp offers keyboard shortcuts for nearly all of its functions, allowing for fast and efficient control by experienced users.
  • Integration with MPD
    As a client for the Music Player Daemon (MPD), ncmpcpp offers seamless integration, allowing users to control their MPD music servers directly.

Possible disadvantages of ncmpcpp

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users may find ncmpcpp challenging to learn due to its text-based interface and extensive use of keyboard shortcuts.
  • Limited Support for Non-MPD Contexts
    ncmpcpp is specifically designed as a client for MPD, so it lacks utility and integration features for users not using MPD.
  • Lack of Modern UI
    The text-based interface may be off-putting to users accustomed to graphical interfaces, potentially making it less visually appealing.
  • Configuration Complexity
    While customizable, the process of configuring and fine-tuning ncmpcpp to specific needs can be complex and time-consuming.
  • Dependency on MPD
    Since ncmpcpp is dependent on MPD, issues with MPD or incompatibility with certain versions could affect ncmpcpp's functionality.

Analysis of kew

Overall verdict

  • Kew is a well-regarded, lightweight terminal music player for Linux that offers a fast, distraction-free way to play local music directly from the command line, making it a solid choice for CLI enthusiasts.

Why this product is good

  • Runs entirely in the terminal with a clean, minimal text-based user interface
  • Lets you search and play your local music library quickly by keyword
  • Lightweight and resource-efficient with minimal dependencies
  • Supports common audio formats and features like playlists, gapless playback, and album art in supported terminals
  • Open source and actively maintained on GitHub
  • Keyboard-driven controls appeal to power users who prefer staying in the terminal

Recommended for

  • Linux users who prefer command-line tools over graphical applications
  • Developers and terminal power users who want a fast, keyboard-driven music player
  • People with large local music libraries seeking quick search and playback
  • Users on lightweight or minimal systems who want a low-resource audio player
  • Fans of distraction-free, no-frills music listening

kew videos

+ Add

Every Suburb in Melbourne Kew Edition

More videos:

  • Review - Kew Gardens Is My New Home! Full Tour Of The Dreamiest London Area
  • Review - Kew gardens review : )

ncmpcpp videos

+ Add

Ncmpcpp: The Best MPD Client With The Worst Name

More videos:

  • Review - Spotify + Mopidy + ncmpcpp = The most Linux way to listen to Spotify!
  • Review - Linux Language Learning Workflow (Part 1: mpd, ncmpcpp + trans with Assimil)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to kew and ncmpcpp)

kew

ncmpcpp

Media Player
55 55%
Media Player
45% 45
Audio Player
55 55%
Audio Player
45% 45
Music Player
55 55%
Music Player
45% 45
Video Player
51 51%
Video Player
49% 49

User comments

Share your experience with using kew and ncmpcpp. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, kew seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

kew mentions (1)

  • Ask HN: How to go back to listening to MP3s?
    Hi, I'm the developer of kew which works for linux, macOs, Android and FreeBSD. The two best places to buy music in my opinion are qobuz and bandcamp. https://github.com/ravachol/kew I encourage you to go check out my app because it really whips the llama's ass. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago

ncmpcpp mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ncmpcpp yet. Tracking of ncmpcpp recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing kew and ncmpcpp, you can also consider the following products

C* Music Player - cmus is a small, fast and powerful console music player for Linux and *BSD.

rmpc - Rmpc is a beautiful, modern and configurable terminal based Music Player Daemon client. It is heavily inspired by ncmpcpp and ranger/lf file managers.

AIMP - AIMP : Free Audio Player : Официальный сайт программы

Clementine - Clementine is a cross-platform free and open source music player and library organizer based on...

Rhythmbox - Rhythmbox is an audio player for Linux that plays and organizes digital music.

MOC - MOC (music on console) is a console audio player for LINUX/UNIX designed to be powerful and easy to...

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