Alternatives to QuickTime Player for macOS: top apps

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Sep 19, 2024
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QuickTime is macOS’s default media player and though there are a lot of great things to be said about it, it doesn’t come without its faults. For example, it often struggles with playing MP4 files and many other file formats. Plus, it doesn’t offer a lot of advanced features such as customization and hot keys. 

Most people who use QuickTime are also familiar with its performance issues like choppy playback. A simple solution to all these problems is to switch to a media player that replaces QuickTime and provides all the things that it lacks. If you’re looking for a better video player for Mac, we share several alternatives in this article, which perform much better than macOS’ built-in player.

Top QuickTime Alternative — Elmedia Player

Elmedia Player is the best QuickTime alternative for Mac. It supports a wide variety of video and audio formats, which means you don’t have to get new codecs for every single video you download. From AVI, MP4, and MKV to VOB and WEBM, this app is capable of playing almost any video file you find.

Another great thing about this player is that it can easily handle 4K-8K high-quality videos without running into any performance issues. For those who want to stream on a large screen, Elmedia’s Pro version lets you watch videos directly on your TV.

Play different media in the Elmedia Player instead of the QuickTime

Pros

  • Supports large number of formats
  • Has a user-friendly interface
  • Offers advanced features
  • Easy playback control
  • Advanced subtitle features
  • Picture-in-Picture mode
  • Has multiple audio track support
  • Playlist support
  • Take screenshots from videos
  • Has playback enhancement options
  • Supports full screen mode
  • Supports AirPlay and Chromecast streaming

Cons

  • Streaming is a PRO feature
  • Not suitable for editing videos

OS: macOS

Price: Free, PRO upgrade priced at $19.95

VLC Media Player

VLC has been around for decades and it’s a player that almost everyone has used. Despite the popularity it has enjoyed over the past 15 years, most users know that it can be quite problematic. For example, it has a very clunky and outdated user interface. It comes with a lot of advanced features, but finding them can be challenging. 

For people who prefer ease of use and simplicity, VLC isn’t the best option. If you’ve grown tired of using it, then it’s time to switch to a more reliable alternative.

Another alternative to QuickTime is the VLC Player

Pros

  • Free and open source app
  • Plays many different file formats
  • Works on multiple platforms
  • Advanced subtitle options
  • Supports Chromecast streaming
  • Offers multi-track audio
  • Playlist support
  • Lets you take screenshots from videos

Cons

  • Interface is outdated
  • Potential for occasional bugs
  • No native Picture-in-Picture mode support

OS: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

Price: free and open-source

Download: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/

MKPlayer

MKPlayer has tons of great features like AirPlay, Safari Extension, and a responsive control panel layout. However, most of its features are locked behind a paywall, so unless you’re willing to pay for the pro version, you won’t get much out of it.

While the mini player version of the app looks great, many users might not find the full version very appealing.

Try MKPlayer instead of QuickTime

Pros

  • Supports many audio and video formats
  • Free basic playback functions
  • Playlist support
  • Take screenshots from videos
  • Multiple audio track support
  • Advanced subtitle features

Cons

  • Free version is very limited
  • Safari Extension Pro Feature
  • Does not support advanced playback features
  • Most advanced features are locked behind a paywall
  • No advanced playback controls in free version

OS: macOS

Price: Free. Includes in-app purchases

Download: https://rockysandstudio.com/

IINA

IINA is a media player that’s specifically optimized for macOS. With its modern and slick interface, it offers a seamless playback experience suited to Mac users. It supports a wide range of media formats and also offers many advanced features.

Quick Time Replacement - IINA media player

Pros

  • Sleek and user-friendly interface
  • Plays wide array of formats
  • Open source
  • Picture-in-Picture mode
  • Take screenshots from videos
  • Playlist support
  • Supports full screen mode
  • Playback enhancement options
  • Multiple audio track support
  • Easy playback control
  • Customizable UI
  • Has a plugin system

Cons

  • Limited video editing capabilities

OS: macOS

Price: Free.

Download: https://iina.io/

Conclusion

As you can tell, there are many great QuickTime alternatives. Elmedia Player is one of the best choices since it supports lots of different video formats and you don’t have to spend any time downloading new codecs, but we recommend weighing your options based on your specific needs. 

VLC and MKPlayer are great, but they may not be right for people who care about user-friendliness and regular updates. IINA, on the other hand, is an open-source player and you can easily share your feedback and ideas with the developers, and send any errors you encounter while using it.

Whichever one you should use largely depends on factors like how much you value video quality, compatibility, and whether you only want a music player or a universal video player.