Free IINA alternatives
Top Media Players & Servers like IINA
The most popular alternative to IINA is VLC media player, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to IINA are mpv, Infuse, Plex, and Kodi.
Most alternatives to IINA are in the Media Players & Servers category, compared here by price, platform and features.
All IINA alternatives
VLC is a free and open source media player from the VideoLAN non-profit that handles most video and audio formats, DVDs, audio CDs and network streams without installing extra codecs. It supports subtitles, hardware decoding, filters, format conversion and streaming, and can be extended with add-ons and skins. It runs on desktop and mobile platforms, with no ads, tracking or paid tier.
9 VLC media player alternativesPros
- Plays almost any file, disc or stream without extra codecs
- Free and open source, with no ads or tracking
- Available on desktop and mobile platforms
Cons
- Interface looks dated next to more modern players
- Advanced settings are buried in complex preference menus
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesmpv is a free, open source media player for the command line with a minimal on-screen controller. Built on FFmpeg and descended from MPlayer, it plays a wide range of formats, renders high-quality video with GPU shaders and hardware decoding, and is configured through text files and key bindings. Lua and JavaScript scripts extend it, and the libmpv library powers front ends such as IINA.
9 mpv alternativesPros
- Excellent video quality with GPU shaders and hardware decoding
- Highly scriptable with Lua and JavaScript
- libmpv powers other front ends such as IINA
Cons
- Minimal interface with no menus or playlist manager by default
- Configuration lives in text files, which deters casual users
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesInfuse is a video player for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and Vision Pro that plays files from network shares, cloud drives and media servers such as Plex, Emby and Jellyfin. It fetches artwork and metadata, downloads subtitles from OpenSubtitles and syncs watch history with Trakt. Core playback is free, while Infuse Pro adds support for more formats, Dolby Vision and Atmos audio, and additional services.
7 Infuse alternativesPros
- Polished playback with artwork and metadata across Apple devices
- Connects to network shares, cloud drives, Plex, Emby and Jellyfin
- Trakt sync and automatic subtitles from OpenSubtitles
Cons
- Apple platforms only, with no Android or Windows app
- Some formats, Dolby Vision and Atmos require Infuse Pro
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesPlex is a media platform that organizes your movies, shows, music and photos with Plex Media Server and streams them to apps on phones, TVs, consoles and browsers. It fetches artwork and metadata, transcodes when needed and offers free ad-supported movies and live TV. Core features are free, while a Plex Pass subscription unlocks extras such as hardware-accelerated transcoding and remote playback of your own media.
9 Plex alternativesPros
- Polished apps on phones, TVs, consoles and browsers
- Rich artwork and metadata for movies, shows and music
- Free ad-supported movies and live TV alongside your own library
Cons
- Remote playback of your media and hardware transcoding need Plex Pass
- Requires a Plex account, with sign-in depending on Plex servers
- Ad-supported content clutters the interface
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesKodi is a free, open source media center, originally known as XBMC, designed for the big screen and remote controls. It organizes local and network movies, shows, music and photos with artwork and metadata, plays nearly every format, and is extended through add-ons, skins and PVR backends for live TV. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and small devices such as the Raspberry Pi.
9 Kodi alternativesPros
- Big-screen interface designed for remote controls
- Extensible with add-ons, skins and PVR backends for live TV
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and the Raspberry Pi
Cons
- Setup and configuration take time for newcomers
- Third-party add-ons vary in quality, and some carry legal or security risks
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesJellyfin is a free, open source media server for hosting your own movies, TV shows, music, books and photos and streaming them to web, mobile, TV and desktop clients. Forked from Emby in 2018, it has no premium tier or tracking: hardware transcoding, live TV and DVR, multiple users and plugins are all included. The server runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker and many NAS devices.
9 Jellyfin alternativesPros
- Completely free, with hardware transcoding and DVR included
- Open source, with no tracking and no premium tier
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker and many NAS devices
Cons
- Client apps are less polished than Plex or Emby on some devices
- Remote access needs manual setup such as a reverse proxy or VPN
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesEmby is a media server that organizes your movies, shows, music and photos and streams them to apps on the web, mobile devices, smart TVs and consoles. It supports multiple user profiles with parental controls, automatic metadata and live TV. The server and basic apps are free, while an Emby Premiere subscription unlocks extras such as hardware transcoding and DVR. Emby moved away from open source in 2018.
7 Emby alternativesPros
- Streams to web, mobile, smart TVs and consoles
- Multiple profiles with parental controls and live TV
- Automatic metadata keeps libraries well organized
Cons
- Hardware transcoding and DVR require an Emby Premiere subscription
- No longer open source, unlike its fork Jellyfin
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategories
IINA vs its alternatives at a glance
Pricing, platforms and the key features of IINA, compared with its most popular alternatives.
| App | Pricing | Platforms | Dark mode | Hardware decoding | Plays almost any format | Plugins & extensions | Subtitles support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreeOpen source | Mac | ||||||
| FreeOpen source | Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android | ||||||
| FreeOpen source | Windows, Mac, Linux | ||||||
| Freemium | Mac, iPhone | ||||||
| Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, Self-hosted | ||||||
| FreeOpen source | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android |
IINA alternatives: frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to IINA?
The most popular alternative to IINA is VLC media player: Free, open source media player that plays almost any file. Other great alternatives are mpv, Infuse, Plex, and Kodi.
Is there a free alternative to IINA?
Yes, 7 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including VLC media player, mpv, Infuse, and Plex.
Is there an open source alternative to IINA?
Yes, 4 open source alternatives are listed, including VLC media player, mpv, Kodi, and Jellyfin.
Is IINA free?
Yes, IINA is free to use.
Compare IINA with its alternatives
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