Listen 1 vs Pear Desktop
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A desktop player that searches and plays songs from several Chinese music sites in one place.
Open source · MIT
Unofficial desktop app for YouTube Music, with a plugin system, for Windows, macOS and Linux.
The short answer
Choose Listen 1 if you need…
- People who listen to music on Chinese streaming platforms and want one app for them
- Users who want a desktop player instead of a browser tab
- Developers who want to read or build a cross-platform Electron-style music app
Choose Pear Desktop if you need…
- People who want YouTube Music in a standalone desktop window
- Users who want to customize the look of YouTube Music with CSS themes
- Developers who want to write their own plugins for the player
- Windows, macOS, or Linux users who want one installer-based option
Side-by-side
| Listen 1 | Pear Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 11.4k | 34k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | Clone and build from source | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 7 months ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Listen 1
Listen 1 is a desktop music player for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It lets you search and play songs from several major Chinese music platforms, such as NetEase Cloud Music, QQ Music, and Kugou, from a single app. It also supports favorites so you can build your own playlists.
Pear Desktop
Pear Desktop is a free, open-source desktop application that wraps YouTube Music in its own window so you can use it like a regular program rather than a browser tab. It is built with Electron and TypeScript. It also supports plugins and custom CSS themes that change how the app looks and behaves. The project states it is unofficial and not affiliated with Google or YouTube.
Best for
Listen 1
- People who listen to music on Chinese streaming platforms and want one app for them
- Users who want a desktop player instead of a browser tab
- Developers who want to read or build a cross-platform Electron-style music app
Pear Desktop
- People who want YouTube Music in a standalone desktop window
- Users who want to customize the look of YouTube Music with CSS themes
- Developers who want to write their own plugins for the player
- Windows, macOS, or Linux users who want one installer-based option
Strengths
Listen 1
- Covers multiple platforms (NetEase, QQ, Kugou, Kuwo, bilibili, Migu, Qianqian) in one app
- Runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Open source under the MIT license with a large community following
Pear Desktop
- Open source under the MIT license, with a public codebase on GitHub
- Offers install paths through several package managers, including Homebrew, Scoop, Winget, and AUR
- Supports a plugin system and CSS themes for customization
Not ideal for
Listen 1
- Users outside China who need Western streaming catalogs, since the README lists only Chinese platforms
- People who need a fully supported, officially licensed music service, because the README does not describe licensing arrangements
- Users who need a polished, documented setup, since the README is brief and mostly in Chinese
Pear Desktop
- Users who need an official YouTube Music client, since the project is unofficial and unaffiliated with Google or YouTube
- People without a YouTube Music account who expect a standalone music library, since the README does not describe offline music of its own
- Users on very old or unsupported operating systems, since the README does not list supported versions
Trade-offs
Listen 1
- The README is short and mostly in Chinese, so setup details are limited
- Depends on third-party music sites, whose availability and terms the README does not explain
- Setup for building from source requires a submodule step and several npm scripts
Pear Desktop
- Unofficial and not endorsed by Google or YouTube, and the README says it is provided as-is with no liability
- Some install steps, such as the macOS quarantine fix and Windows SmartScreen warnings, may confuse non-technical users
- Plugin development requires TypeScript and familiarity with Electron concepts
Getting started
Listen 1
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/listen1/listen1_desktopInitialize submodules (after checkout)
git submodule update --init --recursivePear Desktop
Install on macOS with Homebrew
brew install pear-devs/pear/pear-desktopInstall on Windows with Winget
winget install pear-devs.pear-desktopFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Listen 1 and Pear Desktop?
Listen 1: A desktop player that searches and plays songs from several Chinese music sites in one place. Pear Desktop: Unofficial desktop app for YouTube Music, with a plugin system, for Windows, macOS and Linux. Listen 1 suits people who listen to music on chinese streaming platforms and want one app for them, while Pear Desktop suits people who want youtube music in a standalone desktop window.
Are Listen 1 and Pear Desktop free?
Listen 1: Free and open source. Pear Desktop: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Listen 1 or Pear Desktop?
Pear Desktop is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Listen 1 is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Listen 1 or Pear Desktop more popular?
Pear Desktop has more GitHub stars (34k) than Listen 1 (11.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Listen 1 and Pear Desktop?
Other options people compare them with include YesPlayMusic, Alger Music Player, xbar, Koel, Rubick.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.