5 alternativesIINA: Free, open source

The best IINA alternatives

For most people the best alternative to IINA is VLC, and the best free one is Infuse.

The Useful TechResearched and written with AI under our rulesUpdated 14 Oct 2026

Best alternativeVLC app iconVLCPick it if you want 1 free player that opens any file on your Mac, iPhone and iPad.Free, open source
Best free alternativeInfuse app iconInfusePick this if your movies live on a NAS or Plex server and you watch on Apple TV or iPad.Free to startAlso greatSofa app iconSofaPick it if you lose track of which episode you're on across several shows.Free to start

Compare at a glance

IINA is highlighted, so you can see what you give up and what you gain.

AppPriceHow you payMaciPhoneiPadWatchApp StoreDeveloperRating
IINA app iconIINAFree, open sourceFreeToo few ratings
VLC app iconVLCFree, open sourceFree3.7
Infuse app iconInfuseFree to startFree, with paid upgrades4.7
Sofa app iconSofaFree to startFree, with paid upgrades4.7
Play app iconPlayFree to startFree, with paid upgrades4.7
Binge app iconBingeFree to startFree, with paid upgrades4.2

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The alternatives, in order

  1. 1VLC app icon

    VLC

    Free, open sourceBest alternative3.7

    Pick it if you want 1 free player that opens any file on your Mac, iPhone and iPad.

    The free, open-source player that opens almost any video file and streams from your home server or cloud drive.

    Prices and full verdictApp Store
  2. 2Infuse app icon

    Infuse

    Free to startBest free4.7

    Pick this if your movies live on a NAS or Plex server and you watch on Apple TV or iPad.

    Plays MKV and almost any other video file on Apple TV, iPad and iPhone, straight from your NAS or Plex server.

    Prices and full verdictApp Store
  3. 3Sofa app icon

    Sofa

    Free to start4.7

    Pick it if you lose track of which episode you're on across several shows.

    Your shows, books, games and podcasts in 1 place, with episode tracking and no account needed.

    Prices and full verdictApp Store
  4. 4Play app icon

    Play

    Free to start4.7

    Pick it if you save more YouTube videos than you watch and want them in one tidy queue on every device.

    A personal watchlist for videos from any app, with an algorithm-free YouTube feed synced over iCloud.

    Prices and full verdictApp Store
  5. 5Binge app icon

    Binge

    Free to start4.2

    Pick it if you track everything you watch and want ratings from 3 sites without opening 3 tabs.

    A movie and TV tracker with 3 review scores, post-credits alerts and jumpscare timelines, made by one developer.

    Prices and full verdictApp Store

IINA head to head

IINA app icon

When IINA is still the right pick

You watch movies and shows saved on your Mac and want a player that feels native to macOS.

IINA prices and verdictFree, open source