is IINA a decent and safe alternative to VLC?

[wirtandi]

Looking for an alternative to VLC. VLC is considered to be a decent media player but personally I don't like using it. Did some research and found that IINA seems to be very well liked by users.

Is it good? Is it safe to install?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Yes and yes.

 

[wirtandi]

Yes and yes.

Thanks

 

[ElectronGuru]

Switched to IINA years ago. Everything else is different flavors of garbage, in comparison. Just make sure to spend some time tuning the prefs, especially the key sequences.

 

[TheIntruder]

IINA is a great alternative, performs better, and feels like a native Mac app, not a port of a cross-platform app.

I only wish there was an AppleTV version as well.

 

[matrix07]

Is it compatible with M1?

 

[Fishrrman]

I've been using IINA for quite a while.
Works great.

 

[smoking monkey]

Love IINA. I find it performs far better than VLC. I do go into the Safari settings and switch off its extension though.

 

[allan.nyholm]

Is it compatible with M1?

Yes - the 1.2.0 version is

Offered within IINA or via beta page - this is the release notes page for 1.2.0

 

[ElectronGuru]

I should add, movist and movist pro deserve a look as well. Just not as good as IINA.

There’s also a (less developed) iOS equivalent

‎Outplayer

‎Your ultimate iOS video companion that blends simplicity with power, backed by lightning-fast performance. With an intuitive, polished interface, Outplayer makes enjoying your favorite videos effortless. Elevate your watching experience with the most efficient and user-friendly video player on...

apps.apple.com

 

[deeppurple114]

working with M1?

edit:
didn't saw the answer above

 

[DaveskiSeventeen]

What makes IINA better than QuickTime? I have VLC on my iMac although I've never totally got on with VLC on any platform. I'm curious about IINA, it looks really good.

 

[matrix07]

Yes - the 1.2.0 version is

Offered within IINA or via beta page - this is the release notes page for 1.2.0

Oh I have to download beta.

 

[QuentinWilson]

Oh I have to download beta.

The auto updater brought me to 1.2.0 on my M1 Mac Mini, so you might not actually need not to do anything special. Thumbs up for this version from me, works perfectly.

 

[matrix07]

The auto updater brought me to 1.2.0 on my M1 Mac Mini, so you might not actually need not to do anything special. Thumbs up for this version from me, works perfectly.

Oh yes it did. Thanks for the tip 👍

 

[allan.nyholm]

Oh I have to download beta.

Yes, I wrote "offered with IINA" as a possible hint that IINA offers it when you launch the application or at least let IINA check for updates

Funny it might seem that it's called a beta on IINA's website and yet offered from IINA without any Check for Beta updates options checked.
The user is offered 1.1.2 on the landing page.

 

[TheIntruder]

What makes IINA better than QuickTime? I have VLC on my iMac although I've never totally got on with VLC on any platform. I'm curious about IINA, it looks really good.

Try playing an .avi file, or other container file with a codec QT doesn't support, and the answer becomes obvious.

 

[allan.nyholm]

What makes IINA better than QuickTime? I have VLC on my iMac although I've never totally got on with VLC on any platform. I'm curious about IINA, it looks really good.

IINA has a fun Music Mode that puts IINA in a minimal interface for e.g downloaded / "borrowed" YouTube music videos or instructional videos for when you have a whole folder of YouTube videos and clips like I do - just for the heck of it.

These screenshots are the minimal view of that Music Mode. Just something that is nice to have included. Clicking on the Cover Art symbol brings up the video at the top of the playlist. Appears on hover over - otherwise the song or video currently playing is visible

 

[monol0g]

IINA is imho the best media player on macOS

 

[DaveskiSeventeen]

Try playing an .avi file, or other container file with a codec QT doesn't support, and the answer becomes obvious.

OK thanks.

 

[manuelg]

Been using IINA for years. The main feature that I like is the ability to resize the videos using pinch to zoom with a trackpad. And also, the easy accessibility to audio/video controls.

 

[Big Bad D]

Thanks for the positive feedback for IINA. I had not come across it before, and had been looking for an alternative to VLC or Quicktime. Downloaded IINA and very happy with it.

 

[DaveskiSeventeen]

I'm curious as to why IINA isn't in the app store though.

 

[saudor]

That media player is really good but in big sur, it's been really glitchy e.g. legacy full screen will cause it to hang when leaving full screen

 

[MSKenyon]

I would love to leave VLC in the rear view mirror. Sadly...

i need VLC. It has the ability to play A video on one screen and leave the controls/playlist on my main screen, separate. Unless I'm missing something?