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Deluge vs IINA

Deluge logo

Deluge

Utilities

Free open source BitTorrent client with true thin-client architecture for remote daemon control

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IINA logo

IINA

Entertainment

Free open source Mac video player built on mpv, with a native macOS interface

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Deluge it has no built in search tab, so finding torrents needs a separate tool, the same gap Transmission has against qBittorrent.; IINA there is no Apple TV or iOS app, so it cannot be used for a living room streaming setup the way Infuse can.
  • They diverge on capability: Deluge covers Daemon and thin-client split, IINA covers mpv playback engine.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Deluge and IINA actually diverge.

Attributes where Deluge and IINA differ
AttributeDelugeIINA
PlatformsMac, Windows, LinuxMac
CategoryUtilitiesEntertainment

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Deluge

  • Daemon and thin-client split
  • Plugin system
  • Web UI
  • Label organisation
  • Low resource daemon
  • Cross-platform clients

Only in IINA

  • mpv playback engine
  • Native macOS interface
  • Trackpad gestures
  • Picture-in-picture
  • Subtitle and audio track control
  • Music mode

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Deluge

  • A user running a seedbox or dedicated home server who wants full torrent control from a separate lightweight clientnot IINA
  • Someone who wants to organise a large torrent collection with labels and plugin-based automationnot IINA
  • A NAS owner who wants a low resource daemon with genuine remote control rather than only a web UInot IINA
  • A user building a home media automation stack that expects a proper thin-client API rather than only a browser interfacenot IINA

IINA

  • A Mac user who wants to play locally stored or downloaded video files in formats QuickTime Player does not supportnot Deluge
  • Someone who wants a free player with real trackpad gesture support for seeking and volumenot Deluge
  • A user who wants picture-in-picture video while working in other appsnot Deluge
  • Anyone who prefers a graphical Mac-native player over configuring raw mpv from the command linenot Deluge

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Deluge

  • It has no built in search tab, so finding torrents needs a separate tool, the same gap Transmission has against qBittorrent.
  • The default GTK client interface looks and feels less polished than qBittorrent fuller desktop application.
  • Getting the most out of Deluge, particularly plugins and remote daemon setup, requires more manual configuration than either rival.
  • As with any torrent client, legal use depends entirely on the content being downloaded, which the app does not moderate.
  • Plugin quality and maintenance varies since many are community contributed rather than officially supported.

IINA

  • There is no Apple TV or iOS app, so it cannot be used for a living room streaming setup the way Infuse can.
  • It has no polished network share or cloud storage library browser, so streaming from a NAS or cloud drive is more manual than with Infuse.
  • As a volunteer open source project, new feature development and bug fixes depend on contributor availability rather than a funded team.
  • It is Mac only, so there is no equivalent app for Windows users in a mixed household.
  • Advanced mpv configuration is still exposed for power users, which can be confusing for someone who just wants simple playback with no options.

Pricing, plan by plan

Deluge

Free
  • DelugeFree
    • Free and open source, no account needed
    • Daemon and thin-client architecture included
    • Plugin system for extended features

IINA

Free
  • IINAFree
    • Free and open source
    • No account or subscription
    • Full feature set with no paywall

Which should you pick?

Choose Deluge if

  • You need daemon and thin-client split.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want plugin system.
Deluge review

Choose IINA if

  • You need mpv playback engine.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want native macos interface.
IINA review

Questions people ask

Is Deluge or IINA better?
Neither clearly leads. Deluge starts at Free and IINA at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Deluge or IINA?
Deluge starts at Free and IINA at Free.
Does Deluge or IINA run on more platforms?
Deluge runs on Mac, Windows, Linux. IINA runs on Mac.
Can I use Deluge for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Deluge best used for?
Deluge is most often used for a user running a seedbox or dedicated home server who wants full torrent control from a separate lightweight client, someone who wants to organise a large torrent collection with labels and plugin-based automation, a nas owner who wants a low resource daemon with genuine remote control rather than only a web ui, a user building a home media automation stack that expects a proper thin-client api rather than only a browser interface. Of those, a user running a seedbox or dedicated home server who wants full torrent control from a separate lightweight client and someone who wants to organise a large torrent collection with labels and plugin-based automation are not what IINA is typically brought in for.
What can Deluge do that IINA cannot?
Deluge covers Daemon and thin-client split, Plugin system, Web UI, Label organisation. IINA covers mpv playback engine, Native macOS interface, Trackpad gestures, Picture-in-picture.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Deluge: Is Deluge free?

Yes, entirely, and it is open source with no paid tier or ads.

IINA: Is IINA free?

Yes, entirely, and it is open source with no paid tier or subscription.

Deluge: What makes Deluge different from qBittorrent and Transmission?

Its daemon and thin-client architecture, which lets a lightweight client fully control a Deluge daemon running on a separate machine, a feature neither rival natively matches.

IINA: What is the difference between IINA and mpv?

IINA is built on the mpv engine but adds a full native macOS graphical interface, menus and gestures that mpv does not have on its own.

Deluge: Does Deluge have built in search?

No. Like Transmission, it relies on a separate search tool rather than an integrated search tab.

IINA: Does IINA work on Apple TV?

No. IINA is Mac only. For Apple TV playback, Infuse is the comparable option.

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