Is mpv or Starz better?

Neither clearly leads. mpv starts at Free and Starz at $6.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, mpv or Starz?

mpv has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for mpv and $6.99/month for Starz.

Does mpv or Starz run on more platforms?

mpv runs on Mac, Windows, Linux. Starz runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.

Can I use mpv for free?

Yes. mpv has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Starz starts at $6.99/month.

What is mpv best used for?

mpv is most often used for a developer who wants to script or automate media playback rather than click through a graphical app, a linux user who wants a lightweight player without the overhead of a full desktop application shell, someone embedding video playback into another tool or workflow rather than using it as a standalone app, a power user who prefers editing a text config file over navigating a settings panel. Of those, a developer who wants to script or automate media playback rather than click through a graphical app and a linux user who wants a lightweight player without the overhead of a full desktop application shell are not what Starz is typically brought in for.

What can mpv do that Starz cannot?

mpv covers Command line control, Lua and JavaScript scripting, Plain text configuration, Cross-platform. Starz covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Exclusive content.

Entertainment · head to head

mpv vs Starz

mpv

Entertainment

Free open source command line video player with no graphical interface, built for scripting and precision

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

Starz

Entertainment

Premium originals and hit series

From: $6.99/month
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Only mpv has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
Each has a real cost: mpv there is no graphical interface at all by default, so a typical non-technical user will find it unusable without significant setup.; Starz standard monthly rate after 3-month promotion not disclosed on landing page; requires signup to see renewal pricing
They diverge on capability: mpv covers Command line control, Starz covers Streaming.
Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which mpv and Starz actually diverge.

Attributes where mpv and Starz differ
Attribute	mpv	Starz
Starting price	Free	$6.99/month
Pricing model	Open source, no licence fee	subscription
Free tier	Yes	No
Platforms	Mac, Windows, Linux	Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv
Founded	Unknown	1994

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in mpv

Command line control
Lua and JavaScript scripting
Plain text configuration
Cross-platform
Minimal on-screen overlay
Embeddable engine

Only in Starz

Streaming
Original series
Movies
Exclusive content
Downloads
Smart TVs
Streaming devices
Account security

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

mpv

A developer who wants to script or automate media playback rather than click through a graphical appnot Starz
A Linux user who wants a lightweight player without the overhead of a full desktop application shellnot Starz
Someone embedding video playback into another tool or workflow rather than using it as a standalone appnot Starz
A power user who prefers editing a text config file over navigating a settings panelnot Starz

Starz

Drama streamingnot mpv
Original series watchingnot mpv

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

mpv

There is no graphical interface at all by default, so a typical non-technical user will find it unusable without significant setup.
It has no library browser, artwork fetching or organised media collection view, unlike IINA or Infuse.
There is no Apple TV, iOS or Android version, so it cannot be used for a living room or mobile streaming setup.
Configuration is entirely file and flag based, so getting a specific behaviour set up correctly has a real learning curve compared with a settings panel.
Because it is a general-purpose engine rather than a consumer product, there is no dedicated support channel beyond community forums and documentation.

Starz

Standard monthly rate after 3-month promotion not disclosed on landing page; requires signup to see renewal pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

mpv

Free

mpvFree
- Free and open source under GPL or LGPL depending on build
- No account, subscription or paid tier
- Cross-platform, same engine on every OS

Starz

$6.99/month

Standard$6.99/month
- HD
- Ad-supported
Premium$12.99/month
- 4K
- Ad-free
- Downloads

Which should you pick?

Choose mpv if

You need command line control.
You want to start without paying.
You work on Mac, Windows, Linux.
You also want lua and javascript scripting.

mpv review

Choose Starz if

You need streaming.
You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
You also want original series.

Starz review

Questions people ask

Is mpv or Starz better?: Neither clearly leads. mpv starts at Free and Starz at $6.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, mpv or Starz?: mpv has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for mpv and $6.99/month for Starz.
Does mpv or Starz run on more platforms?: mpv runs on Mac, Windows, Linux. Starz runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
Can I use mpv for free?: Yes. mpv has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Starz starts at $6.99/month.
What is mpv best used for?: mpv is most often used for a developer who wants to script or automate media playback rather than click through a graphical app, a linux user who wants a lightweight player without the overhead of a full desktop application shell, someone embedding video playback into another tool or workflow rather than using it as a standalone app, a power user who prefers editing a text config file over navigating a settings panel. Of those, a developer who wants to script or automate media playback rather than click through a graphical app and a linux user who wants a lightweight player without the overhead of a full desktop application shell are not what Starz is typically brought in for.
What can mpv do that Starz cannot?: mpv covers Command line control, Lua and JavaScript scripting, Plain text configuration, Cross-platform. Starz covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Exclusive content.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

mpv: Is mpv free?

Yes, entirely, and it is open source with no paid tier of any kind.

Starz: What is the current STARZ subscription cost?

STARZ offers a limited-time promotional rate of $4 per month for the first three months. The standard monthly rate after this period is not displayed on the website and appears during signup.

Source

mpv: Does mpv have a GUI?

Not by default. It shows the video and a minimal overlay, but there are no menus, library or settings panel; IINA is the graphical Mac interface built on the same engine.

Starz: How many devices can stream simultaneously on STARZ?

STARZ subscriptions allow streaming on up to 4 devices at the same time, with unlimited HD streaming and downloads included.

Source

mpv: Can mpv play from network shares or cloud storage?

It can play many stream types via command line arguments, but it has no built in browsable network or cloud library the way Infuse does.

mpv vs Starz

mpv

Starz

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in mpv

Only in Starz

What people use each for

mpv

Starz

Where each one falls short

mpv

Starz

Pricing, plan by plan

mpv

Starz

Which should you pick?

Choose mpv if

Choose Starz if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on mpv

More on Starz

Keep looking

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