VLC has been solid for me, but I’m thinking it might be time for an upgrade. It does the job, but I’m wondering if there’s something better suited for macOS (Tahoe)—maybe smoother playback, better integration, or just a more modern feel.
Something reliable with a nice UI.
MacBook Pro (M1, 2020)
VLC is a very solid workhorse of an app but if IINA is a good alternative
and the price is right too.
Really depends on what you’re after. VLC is great. It has been the most stable and reliable solution for years, has proven itself very well. It plays pretty much anything you throw at it, but if you want something that feels more in sync with macOS Tahoe, there are definitely other options. Some media players just work better with touchpad gestures, HDR, and Apple Silicon, and that can make a big difference, especially if you watch a lot of high-bitrate videos.
Another thing is how well a player handles different formats, subtitles, and audio tracks. Some don’t deal well with MKV files that have multiple audio tracks, and others completely mess up ***/SSA subtitles, which is super annoying if you rely on them. Even AirPlay and external display support can be hit or miss—some players handle scaling and audio passthrough fine, while others just don’t.
And honestly, VLC hasn’t really changed much over the years. It does the job, but if you’re looking for something that fits better with macOS and has a more modern UI, there are definitely some solid alternatives out there.
It has been 1.5 years since VLC has been updated and only VideoLan knows when they will release the VLC 4 nightly builds that may introduce a more modernized interface. There is a specific Apple Silicon build for the current VLC 3.0.21, which I continue to use periodically, though for strictly video file playback or the occasion conversion.
Otherwise, I use the unlicensed MacGo Blu-ray Player Pro which plays .mkv, .wav, .mp4, etc.
Best VLC alternative for Mac?
