Alternative · verified on 2026-09-25
A Hypnotix alternative for the systems Hypnotix never shipped for
Hypnotix is the M3U player of the Linux Mint project, and it is a good one — inside Linux. Outside Linux there is no build to install: Windows, macOS and Android are not platforms the project publishes. Megacubo opens the same playlists on all of them. This page says what you gain by switching and, more importantly, the one thing you would be giving up.
In one sentence
In short: switch when the machine is not Linux, or when you want the same app on a phone and on a TV box as well; stay when you are on Linux Mint and the built-in Free-TV playlist is exactly why you open the app. The second case is real, and no other player in this section offers it.
The one thing Hypnotix does better
Almost every player here starts empty: you arrive with a playlist, and without a playlist there is no channel. Hypnotix is the exception — it opens with a default provider already in place, Free-TV, with free content grouped by country and no adult content, removable in the settings. That is not the same as providing channels: the project itself says it does not provide content, and what it ships is a collection of public sources. But it is the difference between opening the app and watching something, and opening the app and going to look for a list.
If that first half hour is what you value, Hypnotix is the better answer and we say so plainly. Megacubo takes the opposite route: nothing comes bundled, and it is on you to bring the list — with instructions for the first playlist and where to find legal lists.
The trade, both directions
What you gain
- Windows 10/11 (x64 and ARM64), Linux, macOS, Android, Android TV and TV boxes — one app, one playlist
- No libxapp, libmpv or python3-imdbpy to install first
- Radio, recording, scheduled recordings and casting to the TV
- Numbered releases with notes per platform, and 22 interface languages
- No Wayland workaround needed
What you lose
- The built-in Free-TV playlist: here the first launch is empty
- The Linux Mint integration, if that is the environment you live in
- Nothing else — both are free and both are open source
1 The Hypnotix facts come from github.com/linuxmint/hypnotix — the project README, checked on 2026-09-25. Our side comes from the facts and specifications page.
Where each one makes sense
| Question | Hypnotix | Megacubo |
|---|---|---|
| Does it run on Windows or macOS? | No: the project publishes no builds for either 1 | Yes, on all desktop platforms |
| Does it run on Android or a TV box? | No 1 | Yes, with a remote-friendly interface |
| Does it open with something to watch? | Yes, the Free-TV provider 1 | No: you add your playlist |
| Does it record and cast to the TV? | Not listed among the features 1 | Yes, with the Premium licence |
The attribute-by-attribute table, 16 lines with the same sources, is in the comparison: Megacubo vs Hypnotix.
How to move your playlist across
Both read the same M3U source, so nothing has to be converted. The move is three steps.
- Install Megacubo where you need it — Windows, Linux, macOS or Android TV. On Linux you can keep Hypnotix installed; they do not conflict.
- Add the M3U URL or the Xtream details you already use, following adding an M3U playlist, and set up the guide in configuring the EPG.
- If you were on Free-TV, replace it with a legal list of your own — the IPTV list guide covers where those come from.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Hypnotix alternative for Windows?
Hypnotix is a GTK application from the Linux Mint project and its source publishes no builds for Windows, macOS or Android; it also depends on libxapp 2.6 or newer, libmpv and python3-imdbpy. Megacubo opens the same M3U playlists on Windows 10 and 11 (x64 and ARM64), on Linux and on macOS, with no extra dependency to install.
What does Hypnotix do better than Megacubo?
One thing, and it matters: Hypnotix opens on first launch with a default provider called Free-TV, with free content grouped by country and no adult content, which the user can remove. Megacubo ships no playlist at all, so without your own M3U list there is nothing to watch.
Does Megacubo have the same playlist sources as Hypnotix?
Hypnotix accepts an M3U URL, the Xtream API and a local M3U file. Megacubo accepts M3U/M3U8 playlists and community lists, plus EPG guide data in XMLTV. On the other side, Megacubo has radio, recording and casting to the TV, which Hypnotix does not list among its features.
Do either of them provide channels?
Neither provides a channel package. The Hypnotix project states it does not provide content or TV channels — what it ships is a collection of public sources, Free-TV, that the user can remove. Megacubo bundles nothing: the playlist is yours, and no channel is provided or endorsed.
Try it on the system Hypnotix never shipped for
Megacubo is free and open source, so every claim above can be checked in the app itself, with no account and no trial timer. Premium is an optional one-time licence for those who also want to record and cast.
- Play your own M3U/IPTV lists and live streams
- EPG guide, bookmarks, history and miniplayer included
- 22 interface languages, on Windows, Linux, macOS and Android
- No account, no subscription, no bundled adware
Free and open source (GPL-3.0) · Windows, Linux, macOS and Android · No account required