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Entertainment · head to head

Discord Nitro vs IINA

Discord Nitro logo

Discord Nitro

Entertainment

Upgrade your Discord experience

From
$2.99/month
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

  • Only IINA has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Discord Nitro pricing varies by country - not a single global price; 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: Discord Nitro covers Enhanced file sharing, IINA covers mpv playback engine.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Discord Nitro and IINA actually diverge.

Attributes where Discord Nitro and IINA differ
AttributeDiscord NitroIINA
Starting price$2.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidMac
Founded2015Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

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 Discord Nitro

  • Enhanced file sharing
  • HD video streaming
  • Custom emojis
  • Server boosts
  • Animated avatars
  • Custom video backgrounds
  • Higher quality streaming
  • Priority support

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.

Discord Nitro

  • Removing upload-size limits for sharing large files in serversnot IINA
  • Custom and animated emoji, profile banners and avatar decorationsnot IINA
  • Boosting servers to unlock server-wide perksnot IINA
  • HD video streaming and higher-quality screen sharenot IINA
  • Bundled perks such as Xbox Game Pass access on the full Nitro tiernot IINA

IINA

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

Where each one falls short

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

Discord Nitro

  • Pricing varies by country - not a single global price
  • Nitro Basic is feature-limited versus full Nitro (e.g. 50MB vs 500MB upload cap)
  • Bundled perks (e.g. Xbox Game Pass) are partner-dependent and subject to change or discontinuation
  • Server-boost perks only benefit servers the user actively boosts

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

Discord Nitro

$2.99/month
  • Nitro Basic$2.99/month
    • Custom emoji anywhere
    • 50MB uploads
    • Custom app icons
  • Nitro (Standard)$9.99/month
    • All Basic features
    • Xbox Game Pass Starter (50+ games)
    • Custom profiles per server

IINA

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Discord Nitro if

  • You need enhanced file sharing.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want hd video streaming.
Discord Nitro 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 Discord Nitro or IINA better?
Neither clearly leads. Discord Nitro starts at $2.99/month and IINA at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discord Nitro or IINA?
IINA has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2.99/month for Discord Nitro and Free for IINA.
Does Discord Nitro or IINA run on more platforms?
Discord Nitro runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. IINA runs on Mac.
Can I use IINA for free?
Yes. IINA has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Discord Nitro starts at $2.99/month.
What is Discord Nitro best used for?
Discord Nitro is most often used for removing upload-size limits for sharing large files in servers, custom and animated emoji, profile banners and avatar decorations, boosting servers to unlock server-wide perks, hd video streaming and higher-quality screen share. Of those, removing upload-size limits for sharing large files in servers and custom and animated emoji, profile banners and avatar decorations are not what IINA is typically brought in for.
What can Discord Nitro do that IINA cannot?
Discord Nitro covers Enhanced file sharing, HD video streaming, Custom emojis, Server boosts. IINA covers mpv playback engine, Native macOS interface, Trackpad gestures, Picture-in-picture.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Discord Nitro: How much does Discord Nitro cost?

Discord offers Nitro Basic at $2.99/month with custom emoji and 50MB uploads, and Nitro Standard at $9.99/month with Xbox Game Pass and 500MB uploads.

Source
IINA: Is IINA free?

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

Discord Nitro: What is the difference between Nitro Basic and Nitro Standard?

Nitro Basic costs $2.99/month with 50MB uploads and custom emoji. Nitro Standard at $9.99/month adds Xbox Game Pass, 500MB uploads, HD video streaming, and 2 Server Boosts.

Source
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.

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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