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Entertainment · head to head

IINA vs qBittorrent

IINA logo

IINA

Entertainment

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
qBittorrent logo

qBittorrent

Utilities

Free open source BitTorrent client with a built in search tab and no thin-client remote mode

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.; qBittorrent it lacks true thin-client remote operation, so controlling a qBittorrent instance running on another machine is less seamless than with Deluge without relying on third party tools.
  • They diverge on capability: IINA covers mpv playback engine, qBittorrent covers Built in search.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IINA and qBittorrent actually diverge.

Attributes where IINA and qBittorrent differ
AttributeIINAqBittorrent
PlatformsMacMac, Windows, Linux
CategoryEntertainmentUtilities

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 IINA

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

Only in qBittorrent

  • Built in search
  • Sequential downloading
  • RSS automatic downloading
  • Bandwidth scheduling
  • Web UI
  • Category and tag organisation

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 qBittorrent
  • Someone who wants a free player with real trackpad gesture support for seeking and volumenot qBittorrent
  • A user who wants picture-in-picture video while working in other appsnot qBittorrent
  • Anyone who prefers a graphical Mac-native player over configuring raw mpv from the command linenot qBittorrent

qBittorrent

  • A user who wants to search for torrents from inside the client rather than a separate browser tabnot IINA
  • Someone who wants a fuller desktop feature set, including RSS automation and bandwidth scheduling, at no costnot IINA
  • A user managing a moderate number of active torrents, comfortably a few hundred, on a desktop machinenot IINA
  • Anyone replacing a paid or ad-supported torrent client with a free, ad-free alternativenot 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.

qBittorrent

  • It lacks true thin-client remote operation, so controlling a qBittorrent instance running on another machine is less seamless than with Deluge without relying on third party tools.
  • The web UI can start to lag once active torrent counts climb past roughly a thousand, which matters for a heavy seedbox user.
  • It generally uses more resources than Transmission for the same workload, which matters on a low powered NAS or always-on server.
  • As with any torrent client, legal use depends entirely on what content is being downloaded, and the app itself has no content moderation.
  • Its default interface, while functional, is denser and less minimal than Transmission simple design, which some users find harder to learn at first.

Pricing, plan by plan

IINA

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

qBittorrent

Free
  • qBittorrentFree
    • Free and open source, no account needed
    • Built in search tab included
    • Web UI for remote access

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 qBittorrent if

  • You need built in search.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want sequential downloading.
qBittorrent review

Questions people ask

Is IINA or qBittorrent better?
Neither clearly leads. IINA starts at Free and qBittorrent at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IINA or qBittorrent?
IINA starts at Free and qBittorrent at Free.
Does IINA or qBittorrent run on more platforms?
IINA runs on Mac. qBittorrent runs on Mac, Windows, Linux.
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 qBittorrent is typically brought in for.
What can IINA do that qBittorrent cannot?
IINA covers mpv playback engine, Native macOS interface, Trackpad gestures, Picture-in-picture. qBittorrent covers Built in search, Sequential downloading, RSS automatic downloading, Bandwidth scheduling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

IINA: Is IINA free?

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

qBittorrent: Is qBittorrent free?

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

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.

qBittorrent: Does qBittorrent have built in search?

Yes, a search tab queries multiple torrent search engines directly inside the app, which Transmission and Deluge do not offer by default.

IINA: Does IINA work on Apple TV?

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

qBittorrent: Can I run qBittorrent headless on a server?

Yes, via its web UI, though Deluge specific thin-client mode gives more complete remote control for a dedicated daemon setup.

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