PicGo vs ZY Player
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
Desktop app that uploads pasted or dropped images to image hosts and copies the link.
Open source · MIT
Desktop video player for online video sources, with no ads, for Windows, Mac and Linux.
The short answer
Choose PicGo if you need…
- Bloggers and note-takers who paste screenshots into Markdown editors
- Developers writing docs who need hosted image links
- People who already use GitHub, Imgur, Qiniu, Tencent COS or similar hosts
- Users who want to reuse the same image host setup across several editors
Choose ZY Player if you need…
- People who want a desktop player for online video sources without ads
- Users on Windows, Mac or Linux who want a single app for browsing and playing
- People who want to import and export their own video source lists and favorites
- Users who want playback shortcuts and a small floating mini window
Side-by-side
| PicGo | ZY Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 27.5k | 14.5k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Download the app | Download the app |
| Main language | TypeScript | Vue |
| Last code update | 17 days ago | 4 years ago |
What each one is
PicGo
PicGo is a desktop app that uploads images to online image hosts such as GitHub, Imgur, S3-style storage and several China-based cloud services, then copies the resulting link to your clipboard. It is aimed at people who write in tools like Obsidian, Typora or VS Code and want to paste screenshots without manually uploading them first. The README also describes plugins and an HTTP API for extending it.
ZY Player
ZY Player is a desktop app built with Electron and Vue that plays videos from online resource sources. It offers poster and list browsing, playback history, favorites, search across sources, and a compact mode. The README says the app itself does not host or upload any content.
Best for
PicGo
- Bloggers and note-takers who paste screenshots into Markdown editors
- Developers writing docs who need hosted image links
- People who already use GitHub, Imgur, Qiniu, Tencent COS or similar hosts
- Users who want to reuse the same image host setup across several editors
ZY Player
- People who want a desktop player for online video sources without ads
- Users on Windows, Mac or Linux who want a single app for browsing and playing
- People who want to import and export their own video source lists and favorites
- Users who want playback shortcuts and a small floating mini window
Strengths
PicGo
- Automatically copies the link after each upload, which saves a manual step
- Supports many editors natively or through community plugins, according to the README
- Offers an HTTP API and a plugin system for custom hosts and features
ZY Player
- The README describes the app as free and ad-free
- Supports Windows, Mac and Linux from one codebase
- Has keyboard shortcuts and an import/export feature for sources and favorites
Not ideal for
PicGo
- People who need a hosting service of their own; PicGo only uploads to existing hosts, and the README says it no longer adds new third-party hosts by default
- Users who do not have an account with any supported image host, since uploads need one
- Anyone needing a web-only tool; the README points to installers for desktop platforms
ZY Player
- Anyone looking for officially licensed content, since the README says the sources come from the web and the download channel is currently closed
- Users who need active maintenance or security updates, since the last push was in February 2023
- Users who need a supported, documented developer API or plugin system, which the README does not describe
Trade-offs
PicGo
- Depends on third-party image hosts, so you need an account and must trust that host's availability
- README notes downloads may be slow in mainland China, and some features rely on plugins that you install and maintain yourself
- README does not detail host-specific setup steps; you will need the docs for each service
ZY Player
- The README says the download channel is temporarily closed, so getting the app may be difficult
- The last code push was 2023-02-09, so the project may not be actively maintained
- Content comes from third-party sources the README does not control, and the README asks users to delete the app within 24 hours
Getting started
PicGo
Install on Windows with Scoop
scoop bucket add extrasInstall on Windows with Scoop (package)
scoop install picgoZY Player
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/Hunlongyu/ZY-PlayerFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between PicGo and ZY Player?
PicGo: Desktop app that uploads pasted or dropped images to image hosts and copies the link. ZY Player: Desktop video player for online video sources, with no ads, for Windows, Mac and Linux. PicGo suits bloggers and note-takers who paste screenshots into markdown editors, while ZY Player suits people who want a desktop player for online video sources without ads.
Are PicGo and ZY Player free?
PicGo: Free and open source. ZY Player: Free and open source.
Is PicGo or ZY Player more popular?
PicGo has more GitHub stars (27.5k) than ZY Player (14.5k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to PicGo and ZY Player?
Other options people compare them with include Lepton, GitHub Desktop, Gridea, AiToEarn, YesPlayMusic.
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.