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Entertainment · head to head

IINA vs Peacock

IINA logo

IINA

Entertainment

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Peacock logo

Peacock

Entertainment

Stream iconic movies, shows, and live sports

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IINA there is no Apple TV or iOS app, so it cannot be used for a living room streaming setup the way Infuse can.; Peacock geographic restrictions prevent US access verification
  • They diverge on capability: IINA covers mpv playback engine, Peacock covers Streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IINA and Peacock actually diverge.

Attributes where IINA and Peacock differ
AttributeIINAPeacock
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsMacWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
FoundedUnknown2020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 IINA

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

Only in Peacock

  • Streaming
  • Live sports
  • News
  • Original content
  • Smart TVs
  • Mobile devices
  • Parental controls
  • Profile PINs

What people use each for

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

IINA

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

Peacock

  • Streamingnot IINA
  • Sportsnot IINA
  • Newsnot IINA

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Peacock

  • Geographic restrictions prevent US access verification

Pricing, plan by plan

IINA

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

Peacock

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited content
    • Ads
  • Premium$5.99/month
    • Full library
    • Ads
  • Premium Plus$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Downloads

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Peacock if

  • You need streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want live sports.
Peacock review

Questions people ask

Is IINA or Peacock better?
Neither clearly leads. IINA starts at Free and Peacock at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IINA or Peacock?
IINA starts at Free and Peacock at Free.
Does IINA or Peacock run on more platforms?
IINA runs on Mac. Peacock runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
Can I use IINA for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is IINA best used for?
IINA is most often used for a mac user who wants to play locally stored or downloaded video files in formats quicktime player does not support, someone who wants a free player with real trackpad gesture support for seeking and volume, a user who wants picture-in-picture video while working in other apps, anyone who prefers a graphical mac-native player over configuring raw mpv from the command line. Of those, a mac user who wants to play locally stored or downloaded video files in formats quicktime player does not support and someone who wants a free player with real trackpad gesture support for seeking and volume are not what Peacock is typically brought in for.
What can IINA do that Peacock cannot?
IINA covers mpv playback engine, Native macOS interface, Trackpad gestures, Picture-in-picture. Peacock covers Streaming, Live sports, News, Original content.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

IINA: Is IINA free?

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

Peacock: What is Peacock's pricing?

Peacock pricing information is not available. The website shows geographic restrictions and states the service requires US physical location for domestic customers.

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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