mpv
Focus: media, subtitles and keyboard. Shares video player with IINA. A desktop app, not a Mac app. Adds Windows, Linux and Offline. Same 4.7 rating.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit
Mac App
IINA
A free, open-source modern media player built for macOS.
Rating
4.7 / 5
Pricing
Free
Difficulty
Beginner
Works on
macOS
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is IINA?
IINA is a media player for macOS built on mpv and maintained by its community. It is designed to feel native on the Mac, with trackpad gestures, media controls, Picture in Picture and Live Text, plus a customisable interface with sidebars and controls you can rearrange. Plugins can add subtitle sources, video tools and new interfaces. IINA is free and open source under the GPLv3 licence, with no tracking or telemetry. The current version needs macOS 12 or later (macOS 11 on Intel Macs).
Pros: what IINA does well
- Free and open source with no tracking
- Feels native on the Mac with trackpad gestures
- Plugins can add subtitle sources and tools
Cons: where it falls short
- Only available for macOS
- Needs macOS 12 or later for the current version
Who IINA is for
Mac users who want a clean, modern player for video and audio files.
Who can skip it
People who only watch video in the browser or streaming apps.
IINA alternatives
Not sold on IINA? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
VLC media player
Focus: codecs and open source. Shares media player and video player with IINA. A desktop app, not a Mac app. Adds Windows, Linux and iOS. Rated 4.8 (IINA: 4.7).
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.8Visit
The Art of Command Line
Focus: command line, terminal and bash. Also in Learning and Personal Productivity, like IINA. A course, not a Mac app. Adds Web, Linux and Windows. Rated 4.9 (IINA: 4.7).
CourseFreeWeb, macOS
4.9Visit
Cybersecurity Projects
Focus: cybersecurity, projects and portfolio. Also in Learning and Personal Productivity, like IINA. A course, not a Mac app. Adds Web. Rated 4.8 (IINA: 4.7).
CourseFreeWeb
4.8Visit
Language Transfer
Focus: language learning, audio course and spanish. Also in Learning and Personal Productivity, like IINA. A course, not a Mac app. Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.8 (IINA: 4.7).
CourseFreeWeb, iOS
4.8Visit
Morning Brew
Focus: News, Business and Learning. Also in Learning and Personal Productivity, like IINA. A newsletter, not a Mac app. Adds Web. Rated 4.8 (IINA: 4.7).
NewsletterFreeWeb
4.8Visit
Free alternatives to IINA
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
navi
Focus: terminal, cli and cheatsheet. Also in Personal Productivity and Learning, like IINA. A desktop app, not a Mac app. Adds Windows and Linux. Rated 4.8 (IINA: 4.7).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.8Visit
The Missing Semester
Focus: command line, git and developer tools. Also in Learning and Personal Productivity, like IINA. A course, not a Mac app. Adds Web. Rated 4.8 (IINA: 4.7).
CourseFreeWeb
4.8Visit
AI Expert Roadmap
Focus: ai, roadmap and learning. Also in Learning and Personal Productivity, like IINA. A course, not a Mac app. Adds Web. Same 4.7 rating.
CourseFreeWeb
4.7Visit
Audiobookshelf
Focus: audiobooks, podcasts and self-hosted. Also in Learning and Personal Productivity, like IINA. A web app, not a Mac app. Adds Web, iOS and Android. Same 4.7 rating.
Web AppFreeWeb, iOS
4.7Visit
Chrome Music Lab
Focus: music, education and experiments. Also in Learning and Personal Productivity, like IINA. A website, not a Mac app. Adds Web. Same 4.7 rating.
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.7Visit
How Senior Engineers Actually Build With AI in 2026
Focus: engineering, ai coding and technology. Also in Learning and Personal Productivity, like IINA. A YouTube Video, not a Mac app. Adds Web. Same 4.7 rating.
YouTube VideoFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.7Visit
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