Softwr

Entertainment · head to head

fuboTV vs IINA

fuboTV logo

fuboTV

Entertainment

Sports-first live TV streaming bundle with regional sports networks and a cloud DVR

From
$73.99/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: fuboTV regional sports networks are priced as an add-on beyond the base plan, so the real monthly cost for a fan following a local team is meaningfully higher than the advertised entry 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: fuboTV covers Regional sports networks, IINA covers mpv playback engine.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which fuboTV and IINA actually diverge.

Attributes where fuboTV and IINA differ
AttributefuboTVIINA
Starting price$73.99/monthFree
Pricing modelPer household per month, tiered plansOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVsMac

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 fuboTV

  • Regional sports networks
  • Cloud DVR
  • Local broadcast affiliates
  • Multiple simultaneous streams
  • Sports-only skinny package
  • 4K and multiview

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.

fuboTV

  • A household that wants cable-equivalent sports coverage, including regional sports networks, without a cable contractnot IINA
  • A soccer fan wanting the broad international match coverage fuboTV built its identity onnot IINA
  • A family replacing cable that specifically needs local ABC, Fox, CBS and NBC affiliates plus general entertainment channelsnot IINA
  • A cord-cutter who wants a sports-only skinny package rather than the full entertainment bundlenot IINA

IINA

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

Where each one falls short

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

fuboTV

  • Regional sports networks are priced as an add-on beyond the base plan, so the real monthly cost for a fan following a local team is meaningfully higher than the advertised entry price.
  • It is the most expensive of the mainstream live TV bundles at the entry tier, and Philo costs a fraction of the price for anyone who does not need sports.
  • Cloud DVR storage has limits on the base plan, and keeping recordings longer or expanding storage costs extra.
  • Channel lineups and RSN availability vary significantly by zip code, so the exact price and channel list a household gets is not fully knowable until they check their specific address.
  • Price increases have been frequent historically, so the entry price at signup is not a reliable guide to what a subscriber pays a year or two later.

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

fuboTV

$73.99/month
  • Pro$73.99/month
    • 150+ channels
    • Local ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC in most markets
    • Cloud DVR included
  • Elite$83.99/month
    • More channels than Pro
    • Additional sports and entertainment networks
  • Deluxe$103.99/month
    • Widest channel count
    • Premium networks included

IINA

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

Which should you pick?

Choose fuboTV if

  • You need regional sports networks.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs.
  • You also want cloud dvr.
fuboTV 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 fuboTV or IINA better?
Neither clearly leads. fuboTV starts at $73.99/month and IINA at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, fuboTV or IINA?
IINA has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $73.99/month for fuboTV and Free for IINA.
Does fuboTV or IINA run on more platforms?
fuboTV runs on Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs. IINA runs on Mac.
Can I use IINA for free?
Yes. IINA has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. fuboTV starts at $73.99/month.
What is fuboTV best used for?
fuboTV is most often used for a household that wants cable-equivalent sports coverage, including regional sports networks, without a cable contract, a soccer fan wanting the broad international match coverage fubotv built its identity on, a family replacing cable that specifically needs local abc, fox, cbs and nbc affiliates plus general entertainment channels, a cord-cutter who wants a sports-only skinny package rather than the full entertainment bundle. Of those, a household that wants cable-equivalent sports coverage, including regional sports networks, without a cable contract and a soccer fan wanting the broad international match coverage fubotv built its identity on are not what IINA is typically brought in for.
What can fuboTV do that IINA cannot?
fuboTV covers Regional sports networks, Cloud DVR, Local broadcast affiliates, Multiple simultaneous streams. IINA covers mpv playback engine, Native macOS interface, Trackpad gestures, Picture-in-picture.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

fuboTV: Does fuboTV include local channels?

Yes, ABC, Fox, CBS and NBC affiliates are included in most supported markets, though coverage varies by zip code.

IINA: Is IINA free?

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

fuboTV: Are regional sports networks included in the base price?

No, RSNs are a separate add-on priced by market, typically a few dollars to around $17 more per month.

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.

fuboTV: Is there a cheaper sports-only option?

Yes, fuboTV sells a lower-cost sports-focused skinny package alongside its full entertainment bundle.

IINA: Does IINA work on Apple TV?

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

Share

Related pages

More on fuboTV

More on IINA

Keep looking

Other head to heads