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Entertainment · head to head

IINA vs Tiled

IINA logo

IINA

Entertainment

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tiled logo

Tiled

Game Development

Flexible level editor for 2D games

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.; Tiled no official iOS or Android builds; desktop-only distribution
  • They diverge on capability: IINA covers mpv playback engine, Tiled covers Tile layers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IINA and Tiled actually diverge.

Attributes where IINA and Tiled differ
AttributeIINATiled
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeopen-source
PlatformsMacWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryEntertainmentGame Development
FoundedUnknown2008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Tiled

  • Tile layers
  • Object layers
  • Terrain tool
  • Auto-mapping
  • Wang tiles
  • Custom properties
  • Scripting (JavaScript)
  • Multiple export formats

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

Tiled

  • Tile-based maps for RPGs, platformers, and Breakout-style gamesnot IINA
  • Orthogonal, isometric, and hexagonal map layoutsnot IINA
  • Object layers (rectangles, ellipses, polygons, points) for collision boxes, spawn points, and triggersnot IINA
  • Large 'infinite' maps and multi-map world projectsnot IINA
  • Export to game engines via built-in/scripted exporters using the open TMX formatnot 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.

Tiled

  • No official iOS or Android builds; desktop-only distribution
  • No official browser-based version of the editor itself, despite exporting to many engine formats
  • Building from source requires a Qt 6.2+ / C++ / Qbs toolchain
  • Multi-license codebase (GPL 2.0 application plus Apache 2.0 and BSD components), so redistributors must track which license applies per file

Pricing, plan by plan

IINA

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

Tiled

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Free and open source level editor
    • GNU license free software
    • Download from itch.io or GitHub

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 Tiled if

  • You need tile layers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want object layers.
Tiled review

Questions people ask

Is IINA or Tiled better?
Neither clearly leads. IINA starts at Free and Tiled at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IINA or Tiled?
IINA starts at Free and Tiled at Free.
Does IINA or Tiled run on more platforms?
IINA runs on Mac. Tiled runs on Windows, macOS, 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 Tiled is typically brought in for.
What can IINA do that Tiled cannot?
IINA covers mpv playback engine, Native macOS interface, Trackpad gestures, Picture-in-picture. Tiled covers Tile layers, Object layers, Terrain tool, Auto-mapping.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

IINA: Is IINA free?

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

Tiled: How much does Tiled cost?

Tiled is completely free. It is a free and open source level editor licensed under GNU free software principles.

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.

Tiled: Where can I download Tiled?

Tiled can be downloaded at no cost from itch.io or from the project's GitHub repository. There is no cost barrier to downloading, installing, or using Tiled.

Source
IINA: Does IINA work on Apple TV?

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

Tiled: How is Tiled funded?

Tiled is funded through sponsorships from over 200 sponsors who donate approximately 3,600 USD per month. This currently funds the lead developer for 2 days per week of work.

Source
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