I’ve been using VLC media player for almost a decade.
But then again I wanted PiP mode last year which forced me to try out the IINA video player. Now, it’s almost a year and I’m quite happy with it.
So, in this post, I’ll explain why you should try out this IINA video player and how it fairs against other popular video players on Mac.
Let’s get started –
Why I Prefer IINA Over Other Video Players on Mac
Here are some reasons why I like using IINA on my Mac over alternatives like VLC Media Player:
- Supports Many Video Formats: One thing I like about IINA is its ability to play many types of video files. Some programs on Mac might only work with a few formats, but IINA can handle almost anything, including MP4, AVI, and MKV. This means you don’t need to change your videos to a different type just to watch them.
- Auto-Subtitle Download: If you watch movies or shows in different languages, IINA can automatically find and download the right subtitles for you. This saves you time and makes sure the subtitles match well with what you’re watching.
- Nice, Modern Look: IINA has a sleek and modern design, unlike VLC, which I think looks outdated.
- Great for Local Files: I prefer using IINA for watching movies and videos saved on my computer or a network drive.
- Better Performance: Good performance is key when watching videos, especially high-definition ones. IINA is designed to run efficiently, ensuring videos load quickly and play without issues. This is especially noticeable with very high-quality videos, like 2K and 4K, where IINA handles playback effortlessly.
- Ad-Free: IINA is a completely open-source video player. So, it doesn’t show ads when you play downloaded videos, unlike some browser-based video players.
- Adjustable Video Speed: It’s easy to speed up or slow down videos in IINA, and it keeps the audio quality good, unlike some players where the sound gets weird.
- Full-Screen and Easy Playback: It opens videos in a full-screen mode and can automatically play the next video in the folder, making it a seamless experience.
- Works with Download Managers: I can pair IINA with download managers like Downie to download and watch YouTube videos offline.
- Feels Like an Apple App: The interface feels like it belongs in the macOS environment, providing a smooth user experience.
- Free and Open Source: As I said earlier, IINA is free to use and open-source, giving you control and peace of mind.
- Updated Regularly: As an open-source project, it benefits from ongoing updates and improvements from the ever-growing community.
- Built-in PiP Mode: IINA has a Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode that I was looking for and failed to find in other video players. This built-in PiP mode lets you watch videos in a small, movable window that stays on top of other programs like Google Chrome, terminal, which is great for multitasking.
These points explain why I prefer IINA over any other media player on my Mac; it combines great features with a user-friendly design.
IINA vs Other Media Players
Here’s side by side comparison of IINA with other popular media players on Mac –
| Feature/Aspect | VLC Media Player | IINA | Elmedia Player (Elmedia Player) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-Platform Support | Yes | macOS only | macOS only |
| Design | Simple, somewhat outdated | Modern, clean design | Modern |
| Performance | Reliable and efficient | Good performance, mixed reliability | Handles various formats and HDR well |
| Format Support | Extensive support for various formats | Good codec support (based on MPV) | Supports almost any video/audio format |
| Additional Features | Possibly overloaded with features | Basic features, no need for extra codecs | Multiple useful features |
| Specific Strengths | Consistency in performance across platforms | Aesthetically pleasing for macOS users | Excellent HDR support |
| Specific Weaknesses | VLC comes with an outdated interface | IINA comes with a sleek UI suitable for Mac OS. | Less popular, but feature-rich |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes, based on MPV | No |
| Subtitle Support | Strong, supports various subtitle formats | Excellent subtitle handling | Good subtitle support, not as strong as VLC |
| Streaming Support | Supports various streaming protocols | Limited | Good streaming support |
| Audio Equalizer | Built-in equalizer for custom sound profiles | Provides audio tuning options | Advanced audio equalizer |
| Privacy and Security | No telemetry, strong privacy stance | Generally good, based on open source | Proprietary, privacy policies apply |
| Price | Free | Free | Free with Pro version available |
| Updates | Frequent updates, active development | Regular updates, active development | Regular updates |
I hope this IINA, VLC, and Elmedia player comparison will help you understand why I prefer IINA over the others.
Concluding Lines
If you’re still somewhat conflicted in choosing the media player, let me summarize this for you –
- VLC works well on lots of different devices and is reliable, but its look is a bit old-fashioned.
- IINA has a modern design, works well on Macs, and comes with the added support of Picture-in-Picture (PiP).
- Elmedia Player has many features and great support for different video formats, especially HDR, but not many people know about it.
If you found this review of IINA Media Player helpful, you should also check my Pixelmator Pro Vs Photomator comparison for your Mac PC.
