Swiftfin offers two player options: Swiftfin (VLCKit) and Native (AVKit). The Swiftfin team recommends using Swiftfin (VLCKit) for optimal compatibility and features, though Native (AVKit) is also available for certain cases that benefit from Apple's native capabilities. All video, audio, and subtitle formats listed are supported for direct playback but may be repackaged based on container support. If transcoding is enabled on your server, any unsupported formats will be converted automatically.
| Feature | Swiftfin (VLCKit) | Native (AVKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Framerate Matching | ❌ | ✅ |
| HDR to SDR Tonemapping | ✅ [1] | 🟡 Limited (MP4 only) [2] |
| Player Controls | - Speed adjustment - Aspect Fill - Chapter Support - Subtitle Support - Audio Track Selection - Customizable UI |
- Speed adjustment - Aspect Fill |
| Picture-in-Picture | ❌ | ✅ |
| TLS Support | 1.1, 1.2 [3] | 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 |
| Airplay Audio Output | 🟡 [4] | ✅ |
Notes
[1] HDR to SDR Tonemapping on Swiftfin (VLCKit) may have colorspace accuracy variations depending on content and device configuration.
[2] In Native (AVKit), HDR playback works regardless of DirectPlay or MP4 container format. However, HDR to SDR Tonemapping requires DirectPlaying compatible MP4 files and may require Dolby Vision Profiles 5 & 8 for full support.
[3] Swiftfin (VLCKit) does not support TLS 1.3.
[4] Swiftfin (VLCKit) has a known bug that results in a significant audio delay.
| Container | Swiftfin (VLCKit) | Native (AVKit) |
|---|---|---|
| AVI | ✅ | 🟡 Limited support |
| FLV | ✅ | ❌ |
| M4V | ✅ | ✅ |
| MKV | ✅ | ❌ |
| MOV | ✅ | ✅ |
| MP4 | ✅ | ✅ |
| MPEG-TS | ✅ | 🟡 Limited support |
| TS | ✅ | 🟡 Limited support |
| 3G2 | ✅ | ✅ |
| 3GP | ✅ | ✅ |
| WebM | ✅ | ❌ |
Notes
- Unsupported containers will require transcoding or remuxing to play.
| Audio Codec | Swiftfin (VLCKit) | Native (AVKit) |
|---|---|---|
| AAC | ✅ | ✅ |
| AC3 | ✅ | ✅ |
| ALAC | ✅ | ✅ |
| AMR NB | ✅ | ✅ |
| AMR WB | ✅ | ❌ |
| DTS | ✅ | ❌ |
| DTS-HD | ❌ | ❌ |
| EAC3 | ✅ | ✅ |
| FLAC | ✅ | ✅ |
| MP1 | ✅ | ❌ |
| MP2 | ✅ | ❌ |
| MP3 | ✅ | ✅ |
| MLP | ❌ | ❌ |
| Nellymoser | ✅ | ❌ |
| Opus | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCM | ✅ | 🟡 Limited support |
| Speex | ✅ | ❌ |
| TrueHD | ❌ | ❌ |
| Vorbis | ✅ | ❌ |
| WavPack | ✅ | ❌ |
| WMA | ✅ | ❌ |
| WMA Lossless | ✅ | ❌ |
| WMA Pro | ✅ | ❌ |
- Audio track selection is not currently supported in Native (AVKit) due to issues with HLS file incompatibilities.
| Video Codec | Swiftfin (VLCKit) | Native (AVKit) |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 | ✅ | 🟡 Limited support |
| H.264 | ✅ | ✅ |
| H.265 | ✅ | ✅ |
| MPEG-2 | ✅ | ❌ |
| MPEG-4 | ✅ | ✅ |
| VP8 | ✅ | ❌ |
| VP9 | ✅ | ❌ |
- AV1 is disabled by default but can be enabled for Native (AVKit) using Custom Device Profiles. Enabling AV1 may result in a poor experience for SOCs prior to A17.
| Subtitle Format | Swiftfin (VLCKit) | Native (AVKit) |
|---|---|---|
| ASS | ✅ | ❌ |
| CC_DEC | ✅ | ✅ |
| DVBSub | ✅ | ❌ |
| DVDSub | ✅ | ❌ |
| PGSSub | ✅ | ❌ |
| SRT | ✅ | ❌ |
| SSA | ✅ | ❌ |
| Teletext | ✅ | ❌ |
| TTML | ✅ | ✅ |
| VTT | ✅ | ✅ |
| XSub | ✅ | ❌ |
Notes
- Subtitle track selection is not currently supported in Native (AVKit) due to issues with HLS file incompatibilities.
| Format | Swiftfin (VLCKit) | Native (AVKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Dolby Vision Profile 5 | ❌ | ✅ |
| Dolby Vision Profile 8 | ❌ | 🟡 Compatible devices only |
| Dolby Vision Profile 10 | ❌ | 🟡 Requires AV1 |
| HDR10 | ❌ | ✅ |
| HDR10+ | ❌ | 🟡 Limited support |
| HLG | ❌ | ❌ |
Notes
- HDR10+ support in Native (AVKit) is limited to certain devices, such as the Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) and recent iPhones and iPads with compatible hardware.
- HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) support in Native (AVKit) is limited and not currently supported in Swiftin.
- Dolby Vision Profile 10 requires AV1 to be enabled to work in Native (AVKit).
- Swiftfin (VLCKit) does not support HDR playback natively. HDR content may play back without the intended high dynamic range effect.
Swiftfin track selection is limited by compatibility with each player. In testing, as of Swiftfin 1.3, the following interactions have been tested.
✅ Working correctly
🟡 Partially working with limitations
❌ Not working
| File Configuration | DirectPlay | Transcode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Audio | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Internal Audio + Internal Subtitles | ✅ | 🟡 | - Subtitles do not work if Non-External (DVDSUB) |
| Internal Audio + External Subtitles | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Internal Audio + Internal Subtitles + External Subtitles | ✅ | 🟡 | - Subtitles do not work if Non-External (DVDSUB) |
| Multiple Internal Audio + Multiple Internal Subtitles | ✅ | 🟡 | - Subtitles do not work if Non-External (DVDSUB) |
| Multiple Internal Audio + Multiple External Subtitles | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Multiple Internal Audio + Internal Subtitles + External Subtitles | ✅ | 🟡 | - Subtitles do not work if Non-External (DVDSUB) |
| External Audio + Internal Audio + External Subtitles | ✅ | ✅ | - Cannot play external audio track if transcoding is required - Subtitles do not work if Non-External (DVDSUB) |
| External Audio + Internal Audio + Internal Subtitles | ✅ | ✅ | - Cannot play external audio track if transcoding is required - Subtitles do not work if Non-External (DVDSUB) |
| External Audio + Internal Audio + Internal Subtitles + External Subtitles | ✅ | ✅ | - Cannot play external audio track if transcoding is required - Subtitles do not work if Non-External (DVDSUB) |
| File Configuration | DirectPlay | Transcode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Audio | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Internal Audio + Internal Subtitles | 🟡 | ❌ | - The default audio track will played - subtitles cannot be selected. |
| Internal Audio + External Subtitles | 🟡 | ❌ | - The default audio track will played - subtitles cannot be selected. |
| Internal Audio + Internal Subtitles + External Subtitles | 🟡 | ❌ | - The default audio track will played - subtitles cannot be selected. |
| Multiple Internal Audio + Multiple Internal Subtitles | 🟡 | ❌ | - The default audio track will played - subtitles cannot be selected. |
| Multiple Internal Audio + Multiple External Subtitles | 🟡 | ❌ | - The default audio track will played - subtitles cannot be selected. |
| Multiple Internal Audio + Internal Subtitles + External Subtitles | 🟡 | ❌ | - The default audio track will played - subtitles cannot be selected. |
| External Audio + Internal Audio + External Subtitles | 🟡 | ❌ | - The default audio track will played - subtitles cannot be selected. |
| External Audio + Internal Audio + Internal Subtitles | 🟡 | ❌ | - The default audio track will played - subtitles cannot be selected. |
| External Audio + Internal Audio + Internal Subtitles + External Subtitles | 🟡 | ❌ | - The default audio track will played - subtitles cannot be selected. |
| Feature | Swiftfin (VLCKit) | Native (AVKit) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| External Display Support | 🟡 | ✅ | Swiftfin Player can only be mirrored. As a result, the player will retain the source device dimensions. |