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Heroic Games Launcher vs IINA

Heroic Games Launcher logo

Heroic Games Launcher

Gaming

Open source client for Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries on Linux, Windows and macOS

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: Heroic Games Launcher it depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.; 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: Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries, IINA covers mpv playback engine.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Heroic Games Launcher and IINA actually diverge.

Attributes where Heroic Games Launcher and IINA differ
AttributeHeroic Games LauncherIINA
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOSMac
CategoryGamingEntertainment

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 Heroic Games Launcher

  • Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries
  • Cross-platform
  • Wine and Proton management
  • Steam Deck packaging
  • Cloud saves
  • Add to Steam

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.

Heroic Games Launcher

  • A Steam Deck owner who wants to play Epic or Amazon titles they already ownnot IINA
  • A Linux desktop user with a GOG library and no interest in configuring Wine by handnot IINA
  • A macOS user wanting access to a GOG library without a Windows machinenot IINA
  • Someone consolidating three storefront clients into one interface on Windowsnot IINA

IINA

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

Where each one falls short

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

Heroic Games Launcher

  • It depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.
  • It does not handle Steam, so anyone with a mixed library still runs two clients and the consolidation is partial.
  • Cloud save support varies by store and by game, and finding out that a title does not sync usually happens after losing progress.
  • It is an Electron application, so memory use is high for what is fundamentally a list of games, which matters on a handheld with limited resources.
  • Games protected by kernel-level anti-cheat still do not run on Linux, and the launcher cannot change a publisher decision.

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

Heroic Games Launcher

Free
  • Heroic Games LauncherFree
    • Full functionality
    • No paid tier
    • Store accounts used directly

IINA

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Heroic Games Launcher if

  • You need epic, gog and amazon libraries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want cross-platform.
Heroic Games Launcher 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 Heroic Games Launcher or IINA better?
Neither clearly leads. Heroic Games Launcher 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, Heroic Games Launcher or IINA?
Heroic Games Launcher starts at Free and IINA at Free.
Does Heroic Games Launcher or IINA run on more platforms?
Heroic Games Launcher runs on Linux, Windows, macOS. IINA runs on Mac.
Can I use Heroic Games Launcher for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Heroic Games Launcher best used for?
Heroic Games Launcher is most often used for a steam deck owner who wants to play epic or amazon titles they already own, a linux desktop user with a gog library and no interest in configuring wine by hand, a macos user wanting access to a gog library without a windows machine, someone consolidating three storefront clients into one interface on windows. Of those, a steam deck owner who wants to play epic or amazon titles they already own and a linux desktop user with a gog library and no interest in configuring wine by hand are not what IINA is typically brought in for.
What can Heroic Games Launcher do that IINA cannot?
Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries, Cross-platform, Wine and Proton management, Steam Deck packaging. IINA covers mpv playback engine, Native macOS interface, Trackpad gestures, Picture-in-picture.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Heroic Games Launcher: Why does this exist when Epic has its own launcher?

Epic publishes no Linux client. Heroic fills that gap and then extended to GOG, Amazon, Windows and macOS.

IINA: Is IINA free?

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

Heroic Games Launcher: Is it safe to log into my store accounts?

It is open source and widely used, and it authenticates against the real store endpoints. As with any third-party client, you are trusting the maintainers and the build you installed.

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.

Heroic Games Launcher: Does it work in Steam Deck game mode?

Yes, generally by adding titles to Steam as non-Steam shortcuts, which is a documented part of the normal workflow.

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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