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Entertainment · head to head

Discovery+ vs IINA

Discovery+ logo

Discovery+

Entertainment

Unscripted content at your fingertips

From
$4.99/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: Discovery+ standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month; 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: Discovery+ covers Streaming, IINA covers mpv playback engine.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Discovery+ and IINA actually diverge.

Attributes where Discovery+ and IINA differ
AttributeDiscovery+IINA
Starting price$4.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvMac
Founded2020Unknown

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 Discovery+

  • Streaming
  • Unscripted content
  • Reality TV
  • Originals
  • Downloads
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security

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.

Discovery+

  • Unscripted streamingnot IINA
  • Reality TV watchingnot IINA

IINA

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

Where each one falls short

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

Discovery+

  • Standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month

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

Discovery+

$4.99/month
  • Standard$4.99/month
    • HD
    • Ad-supported
  • Premium$8.99/month
    • 4K
    • Ad-free

IINA

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Discovery+ if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want unscripted content.
Discovery+ 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 Discovery+ or IINA better?
Neither clearly leads. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month and IINA at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discovery+ or IINA?
IINA has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4.99/month for Discovery+ and Free for IINA.
Does Discovery+ or IINA run on more platforms?
Discovery+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. IINA runs on Mac.
Can I use IINA for free?
Yes. IINA has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month.
What is Discovery+ best used for?
Discovery+ is most often used for unscripted streaming, reality tv watching. Of those, unscripted streaming and reality tv watching are not what IINA is typically brought in for.
What can Discovery+ do that IINA cannot?
Discovery+ covers Streaming, Unscripted content, Reality TV, Originals. IINA covers mpv playback engine, Native macOS interface, Trackpad gestures, Picture-in-picture.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Discovery+: How much does Discovery+ cost?

Discovery+ offers two tiers: Standard at $5.99/month with 4 simultaneous streams in Full HD, and Ad-Free at $9.99/month with the same streaming capability plus 100 downloads for offline viewing.

Source
IINA: Is IINA free?

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

Discovery+: Is there a free trial for Discovery+?

Yes, both Standard and Ad-Free plans offer a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Trial access is complimentary, but terms apply.

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.

Discovery+: Can I cancel Discovery+ anytime?

Yes. Your subscription automatically renews monthly, and you can cancel anytime without mentioned fees or penalties.

Source
IINA: Does IINA work on Apple TV?

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

Discovery+: What content is included with Discovery+ plans?

Both Standard and Ad-Free plans grant unlimited access to all 70,000+ episodes with new content added weekly. Ad-Free members can download 100 episodes to watch offline.

Source
Discovery+: How many devices can stream Discovery+ at once?

Both Standard and Ad-Free plans allow 4 simultaneous streams across devices.

Source
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