QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player is a free media player included with macOS for playing video and audio files.
What QuickTime Player is
QuickTime Player is a free media player included with macOS for playing video and audio files. It supports MOV, H.264, HEVC, MPEG-4 audio, and AAC, along with subtitles, network playback, hardware acceleration, and 4K playback. Controls cover play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, and speed changes, including listed speeds from 2x to 60x and smaller increments between 1.1x and 2x. Users can send playback to an AirPlay-enabled device or keep video in a picture-in-picture window.
The app also trims, rearranges, rotates, and splits movies into clips. It can record all or part of the Mac screen, capture a connected iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screen, and record video using a built-in or external camera. Movie exports are .mov files using H.264 or HEVC; audio-only exports use MPEG4 audio. Export resolutions include 4K, 1080p, 720p, 480p, and Audio Only, depending on the source and available options. QuickTime Player does not export MP4 videos.
Good
- Included with macOS at no cost.
- Supports subtitles, network playback, and 4K playback.
- Can trim, rearrange, rotate, and split movies.
- Records Mac screens and connected iOS device screens.
- Offers AirPlay playback and picture-in-picture.
Watch out
- Does not export MP4 videos.
- QuickTime Player 7 is unsupported.
- QuickTime Player 7 is incompatible with macOS versions released after Mojave.
Who it suits
QuickTime Player suits Mac users who want included playback tools plus basic movie editing, screen recording, or device-screen capture. It may be a poor fit for anyone who specifically needs MP4 video exports.
Verdict
QuickTime Player combines Mac media playback with editing, recording, and export tools at no additional listed cost. Its .mov video export limitation is important if your workflow requires MP4 files.
Plans and prices
From QuickTime Player's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| QuickTime Player | Free | Included with macOS |
The facts
Each one read from QuickTime Player's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- 4K playback
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- AirPlay and picture-in-picture
- Users can play a file on an AirPlay-enabled device or view video in a picture-in-picture window.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Camera and audio recording
- Movie recording can use a Mac’s built-in or external camera and offers camera, microphone, and quality options.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Dolby audio requirement
- Dolby passthrough requires a Dolby-capable audio receiver connected by HDMI to a Mac with Apple silicon.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- QuickTime Player exports movies as .mov using H.264 or HEVC and exports audio-only files as MPEG4 audio; it does not export MP4 videos.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Export resolutions
- Export options include 4K, 1080p, 720p, 480p, and Audio Only, subject to the source movie and available options.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Format support
- MOV,H.264,HEVC,MPEG-4 audio,AACchecked 21 Sep 2026
- Hardware acceleration
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- Legacy version
- QuickTime Player 7 is unsupported, is provided for legacy media workflows on macOS Sierra and earlier, and is not compatible with macOS versions released after Mojave.checked 7 Oct 2026
- License model
- freechecked 21 Sep 2026
- Movie editing
- QuickTime Player can trim, rearrange, and rotate movies, and split them into clips.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Network playback
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- Playback controls
- Playback controls support play, pause, fast-forward, rewind, and changing playback speed.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Playback speeds
- Listed playback speeds include 2x, 5x, 10x, 30x, and 60x, with small increments from 1.1x to 2x.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- QuickTime Player plays video and audio files on Mac.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Screen recording
- Users can record the entire Mac screen or select just a portion of it.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Subtitle support
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Device recording
- Users can capture a connected iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screen and save it as a movie file on Mac.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- macOSchecked 21 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
Alternatives to QuickTime Player
- 1
foobar2000
Free planAndroidiOSAPILinux8.2Free plan - 2
Volumio
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI8.2Free plan - 3
Infuse
Free planiOSmacOS8.1From $16.99 a year - 4
mpv
Free planAndroidAPILinuxmacOS7.9Free plan - 5
Audirvāna
AndroidiOSLinuxmacOS7.7 - 6
MediaPortal
Free planAndroidiOSWebWindows7.6Free plan