Apps for watching and tracking movies and shows on Mac and iPhoneHead to head

Infuse vs IINA

Infuse ranks #2 and IINA ranks #3 in our guide to the best apps for watching and tracking movies and shows on Mac and iPhone. Infuse is the better pick for most people.

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

Better for most peopleInfuse app iconInfusePick Infuse if your movies live on a NAS or Plex server and you watch on Apple TV or iPad.Free to start#3 in the guideIINA app iconIINAPick IINA if you watch on a Mac and want a free player that looks and behaves like a Mac app.Free, open source

What decides it

  • IINA costs less over 3 years: Free, against $50.97 for Infuse.
  • Both run on Mac. Only Infuse runs on iPhone and iPad.

Side by side

Prices are checked every day.

At a glanceInfuse app iconInfuseIINA app iconIINA
PriceFree. Pro is $1.99 a month, $16.99 a year or $99.99 onceFree and open source
How you payFree, with paid upgradesFree
3 years of use$50.97 Yearly planFree Cheaper
Free trialFree to startFree to start
Runs onMac, iPhone, iPadMac
Where to buyApp StoreDeveloper
Rating4.7 29K ratingsToo few ratings
FeaturesFamily Sharing, Free trialOpen source
Made byFirecore, LLCNot listed
Last updated26 Oct 2026Not tracked

Who should get which

Get Infuse if

You keep movies on a NAS or Plex server and want to watch them on your Apple TV or iPad.

Get IINA if

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

Skip Infuse if

You only watch Netflix and other streaming apps; Infuse is for video files you already own.

Skip IINA if

You open the occasional MP4, which QuickTime Player plays fine without installing anything.

Our verdicts

Infuse app iconInfuse

Apple TV and iPad won't play an MKV file on their own, and converting a whole movie folder takes hours. Infuse plays those files as they are and streams from your Mac, NAS, or a Plex, Emby or Jellyfin server, with artwork and subtitles pulled in for you. The free version does most of this; Pro adds AirPlay and Dolby Vision, and IINA is the better free pick if you only watch on a Mac.

IINA app iconIINA

Open almost any video file and get a player that behaves like a Mac app, with trackpad gestures, Picture in Picture and Live Text on paused frames. Built on the mpv engine, IINA plays formats QuickTime Player can't, and version 1.5 added a plugin store with extras like new subtitle sources. It is free, open source and tracking-free, while Infuse is better for streaming from a home media server.

What each one helps you do

Infuse app iconInfuse

  • Watch MKV files without converting them
  • Stream movies from your NAS or Plex server
  • Download subtitles for the movie you're watching
  • Sync your watched history with Trakt

IINA app iconIINA

  • Watch a video in Picture in Picture
  • Copy text from a paused frame
  • Scrub and change volume with trackpad gestures
  • Add new subtitle sources with plugins

Where to get them

Infuse

Free. Pro is $1.99 a month, $16.99 a year or $99.99 once

  • App Store, every deviceWith in-app purchases
    Free downloadApp Store

IINA

Free and open source

  • From the developer
    FreeGet it

Neither one quite right?

The other picks in our guide to the best apps for watching and tracking movies and shows on Mac and iPhone.

Read the full guideAll Infuse alternativesAll IINA alternatives

More comparisons