nuclear: Stream Free Music with This Feature-Rich Desktop Player

nuclear: Stream Free Music with This Feature-Rich Desktop Player

Summary

nuclear is a powerful desktop music player designed to stream free music from various online sources. It provides a comprehensive set of features, including searching, playing, and downloading music from platforms like YouTube, Jamendo, and SoundCloud. With no accounts or ads, nuclear offers a seamless and extensive music library experience.

Repository Info

Updated on October 28, 2025
View on GitHub

Tags

music-playerstreamingdesktop-appopen-sourcetypescriptelectroncross-platformyoutube

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Introduction

nuclear is a highly popular, free, and open-source desktop music player designed to bring you music from various free streaming sources across the internet. With over 16,000 stars on GitHub, it offers a rich, ad-free, and account-free experience, allowing users to discover and enjoy a vast library of music. Built with TypeScript and Electron, nuclear provides a cross-platform solution for Windows, macOS, and Linux users. The project is currently undergoing a significant rewrite, nuclear-xrd, which aims to enhance performance and stability by transitioning to Tauri and Rust, promising an even more robust future for the player.

Installation

Getting nuclear up and running on your system is straightforward, thanks to community-maintained packages. Here are some common installation methods:

  • Arch Linux (AUR): 
    yay -S nuclear-player-bin
    or for the git version: 
    yay -S nuclear-player-git
  • Windows (Chocolatey): 
    choco install nuclear
  • macOS (Homebrew Cask): 
    brew install --cask nuclear
  • Snap (Linux): 
    sudo snap install nuclear
  • Flatpak (Linux): 
    flatpak install flathub org.js.nuclear.Nuclear

For other distributions like Gentoo, Void Linux, or Nix/NixOS, please refer to the official GitHub repository's README for specific instructions.

Features

nuclear stands out with its comprehensive set of features, making it a powerful alternative to traditional music streaming services:

  • Multi-Source Streaming: Search for and play music from YouTube (with SponsorBlock integration), Jamendo, Audius, and SoundCloud.
  • Album & Artist Discovery: Search for albums, view album details, and automatically look up songs based on artist and track name.
  • Playlist Management: Create and export song queues as playlists, and load saved playlists from JSON files.
  • Last.fm Integration: Scrobble tracks and update your "now playing" status.
  • Unlimited Downloads: Download music directly from supported sources, primarily YouTube.
  • Realtime Lyrics: Enjoy synchronized lyrics for your favorite songs.
  • Radio Mode: Automatically queue similar tracks for continuous listening.
  • Local Library Support: Listen to music from your personal local collection.
  • No Ads, No Accounts: Experience uninterrupted music playback without intrusive advertisements or the need for user accounts.

Why Use nuclear?

nuclear offers a compelling package for anyone looking for a free, versatile, and user-friendly music player. Its ability to aggregate content from various free online sources means you get access to an incredibly vast library without any subscription fees. The commitment to an ad-free and account-free experience prioritizes user privacy and enjoyment. Furthermore, its cross-platform compatibility ensures that a wide range of users can benefit. With an active community and an exciting rewrite on the horizon, nuclear is not just a music player, it's a growing ecosystem for free music discovery.

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