I don’t blame you if Clementine slipped past your memory. The app was (sort of) dead for eight years, with its last stable release in 2016. But in late 2024, developers decided to revive it with rolling releases. Even with the rise of music streaming services, offline-first apps like Clementine serve as a great reminder of the past and can be useful if you have a large music collection. And if you happen to be looking for a music player, I’d like to make the case that Clementine is the best option available. Its clean user interface, wide platform support, and extensive audio format compatibility are hard to beat.

5 Clean and functional Interface

It takes some getting used to

Clementine’s interface is a mixture of the familiar and the foreign. If you’re coming from iTunes or Winamp, it may seem a bit unusual initially, but stick with it, and it gets better. The default layout is split into two halves: the library manager on the left and playback, with the playlist on the right. Playlists function as expected in any music player — lists of songs, playback buttons, and more.

The minimalist design avoids overwhelming you with tabs or hidden menus, yet it’s not just retro. Themes and customizable layouts ensure it adapts to modern aesthetics.

You can set up the left-side library by specifying which folders on your computer contain music files. Clementine will automatically update and synchronize your library as you add or remove songs. You can also manage connected devices and look up song or album information for individual tracks.

4 Plays nice with most platforms and devices

Even has an Android app

Clementine is open-source software, but it’s not just for Linux. The devs behind it have done an awesome job making it available on pretty much every platform, whether it's Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, or even Android. If you’re like me and use different operating systems on different devices, this helps keep your music experience consistent. Clementine also plays really well with Ubuntu’s desktop. You get an indicator in the top panel that changes depending on playback, plus a notification bubble when the track changes, showing all the details you need. You can even control it straight from the sound menu, picking playlists on the fly. And if that’s not enough, a simple right-click on the launcher gives you even more control.

3 Handles most audio formats

Plus over 20 music sources

Clementine supports a wide range of audio formats, making it compatible with almost any music collection. Whether standard MP3s, high-fidelity FLAC, OGG, or even lesser-known formats like WAV, Clementine plays them all — over 30 in total — without requiring extra codecs or plugins. That’s great news for anyone with a diverse library, from audiophiles and collectors of rare recordings to those who prefer lossless audio.

Beyond local files, Clementine connects to over 20 music sources, including open-license platforms like Jamendo, cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive, and streaming providers such as Spotify and Grooveshark. You can also listen to radio stations from SomaFM, Magnatune, Jamendo, SKY.fm, Digitally Imported, JAZZRADIO.com, Soundcloud, Icecast, and more.

2 Smart playlists and library mastery

You get advanced tagging tools

Clementine treats your library like a database, not a static folder. Its smart playlists auto-update based on criteria you set (genre, play count, rating, or release year), so your “Chill 90s Vibes” list stays fresh as you add music. Advanced tagging tools let you batch-edit metadata or fetch missing album art. For power users, the search function supports SQL-like queries to pinpoint tracks by BPM or composer.

1 Endlessly customizable

Change what you don't like

Clementine lets you customize it to suit your needs. It comes with built-in equalizers and ReplayGain normalization for audiophiles, while keyboard shortcuts and global hotkeys make it easier to use. The player also has a smooth fade-out effect when you stop a song or close the app, and you can tweak it however you like. You can turn it off completely, adjust the fade duration, or even add a fade-out when pausing a track.

One of its best features is Clementine Remote, which lets you control the player from your Android phone. You can browse your library, add songs to your playlist, and adjust the volume without having to be at your computer or stereo system.

Have fun with your music

If you have a large collection of locally stored music, self-hosting can be a great alternative to paying for a streaming service. You can start by setting up a Plex server on an old Windows machine or using Jellyfin for a similar experience. If you want to take it further, you can turn a Raspberry Pi into a music streaming platform with moOde Audio or even build your own Spotify-style music recommender with Python to discover new tracks.