Best apps
Best app to Chromecast from Mac (2026)
The Mac apps that can cast your local videos, MKV included, to a Chromecast or Google Cast TV, ranked with our method shown, plus the free Chrome option.
macOS has no built-in Google Cast, so a Chromecast never appears in your Mac’s AirPlay menu. Chrome can cast tabs and some files; for MKV, AVI and other local videos you need an app. Here are the Mac apps that can actually do it in 2026.
Disclosure
We make CastPanda. Our ranking criteria are shown below. Competitor details come from each vendor’s own website or App Store listing, checked in October 2026 and linked in the sources.
The ranking at a glance
| App | Also AirPlay | Price | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. CastPanda | Yes | One-time | 7 days, full |
| 2. Airflow | Yes | $18.99 one-time | 20-minute playback |
| 3. Elmedia Player PRO | Yes | $19.99 upgrade | 5 minutes of streaming |
| 4. Beamer 4 | Yes | Subscription | 24 hours |
| Google Chrome | No | Free | — |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Why Infuse isn’t on this list
Infuse supports Google Cast on iPhone and iPad, but not on the Mac: Firecore staff have confirmed on their forum that casting from macOS isn’t supported. On a Mac, Infuse can AirPlay (with Pro), not Chromecast. We compare it for Apple TV use in CastPanda vs Infuse.
How we compared
We looked at what each app does for the most common job: playing a video file that’s on your Mac on a TV. We ranked on four criteria, in this order:
- Format support and seeking. Does it play the files TVs reject (MKV, AVI, WebM…), and can you jump around without waiting?
- Device coverage. Casting to Chromecast and TVs with Google Cast built in is required; also AirPlay from the same app is a plus, since many homes have an Apple TV or AirPlay 2 TV too.
- Simplicity. How few steps from file to TV, with no setup on the TV side.
- Price model and trial. One-time purchases rank above subscriptions; longer, less restricted trials rank higher.
We didn’t benchmark other companies’ apps, so we make no claims about their speed or picture quality. Features, prices and trials are as published by each vendor; they change, so check before you buy.
#1: CastPandaBest overall: any file, simply
CastPanda, the app we make, casts almost any video file from your Mac to a Chromecast or Google Cast TV. H.264 videos in MP4 or MKV files are sent untouched; everything else is converted as it plays on your Mac’s built-in media engine, preparing each part on demand, so playback starts quickly and seeking is instant. Subtitles built into the file, or in a separate .srt, .ass, .vtt or other file, are drawn into the picture, so they show on any Chromecast, with size, timing and background controls. Playlists, resume, audio track switching and 5.1 surround are included, and the same window sends to Apple TV and AirPlay 2 TVs.
Why it’s #1 on our criteria: any format with instant seeking, Chromecast and AirPlay in one app, no setup beyond picking your TV, and a one-time price with a full 7-day trial.
- Price
- $9.99, one-time license
- Free trial
- 7 days, every feature
- Streams to
- Apple TV, AirPlay 2 TVs, Chromecast, Google Cast TVs
- Requires
- macOS 26 or later
Pros
- Plays almost any format (MKV, AVI, MP4, MOV, WebM…) by converting as it plays
- Instant seeking: each part is prepared on demand
- AirPlay and Chromecast in one simple app
- Sends H.264 MP4 and MKV video untouched; converts the rest on the Mac’s media engine
- Playlists (folders and M3U), resume, and audio track switching
- Built-in text subtitles, plus .srt, .ass, .vtt and more, with size, timing and background box controls
- 5.1 surround sound
- Quality presets (Automatic, 4K, 1080p, 720p); keeps your Mac awake
- One-time purchase; 7-day trial with no playback limit
- Video never leaves your home network; no account
#2: AirflowOne-time purchase, 20-minute trial
Airflow casts to Chromecast and Google Cast built-in devices as well as AirPlay devices, transcoding what the TV can’t play, with playlists and subtitle and audio track switching.
Why it’s not #1: its free version caps playback at 20 minutes, so you can’t try it on a whole movie. See CastPanda vs Airflow.
- Price
- $18.99 one-time
- Free trial
- Every feature, playback limited to 20 minutes
- Streams to
- Apple TV, AirPlay 2 TVs, Chromecast, Google Cast TVs
Pros
- Plays formats the TV can’t by transcoding as it plays
- Playlists and resume from where you stopped
- Audio track selection
- Embedded text and external subtitle files
- Hardware-accelerated transcoding on supported computers
Cons
- Free version stops playback after 20 minutes
#3: Elmedia Player PROStreaming is a paid upgrade
Elmedia Player PRO streams to Google Cast devices, including Chromecast and Android TVs, as well as AirPlay. It can send files in their native format or transcode them in real time.
Why it ranks here: casting requires the PRO upgrade, which you can only try for 5 minutes. See CastPanda vs Elmedia Player.
- PRO upgrade
- $19.99 in-app purchase
- Free trial
- Streaming works for 5 minutes in the free version
- Streams to
- AirPlay, Chromecast/Google Cast
Pros
- Playlists and audio track selection
- Embedded text and external subtitles while streaming
Cons
- Streaming requires the PRO upgrade
- Only 5 minutes of streaming to try it in the free version
#4: Beamer 4Subscription only
Beamer 4 added Chromecast and Google Cast support to Softorino’s long-running Apple TV streamer, with playlists and audio track switching. It’s available only as a subscription, Softorino’s Universal License.
Why it ranks here: subscription-only, with a 24-hour trial. See CastPanda vs Beamer.
- Price
- Subscription (Softorino Universal License)
- Free trial
- 24 hours
- Streams to
- Apple TV, AirPlay 2 TVs, Chromecast, Google Cast TVs
Pros
- Playlists and queues
- Audio track selection
- Embedded text and external subtitles
Cons
- Only available as a subscription
- Pricing is described differently across Softorino’s own pages
- Short, 24-hour trial
The free option: Google ChromeGood for web video and MP4 files
Chrome can cast a tab, your whole screen, or a local video file opened in a tab (More › Cast, save, and share › Cast…). It’s free and fine for websites and MP4 or WebM files. But Google Cast’s supported formats don’t include MKV or AVI, so those often won’t play, there’s no way to add an .srt file, and screen casting looks choppy for movies. Step-by-step instructions are in how to Chromecast from a Mac.
Our recommendation
For almost everyone who wants to cast video from a Mac, CastPanda is the one to get: it casts almost any format to Chromecast and Google Cast TVs with instant seeking, shows built-in and separate subtitles on any Chromecast, handles playlists and audio tracks, also sends to Apple TV and AirPlay 2 TVs, and costs one payment with a full 7-day trial. Try CastPanda free for 7 days.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Mac cast to Chromecast without an app?
Only through Google Chrome, which can cast tabs, your screen and some local files. macOS and Safari don’t support Google Cast. For MKV, AVI and subtitle files you need an app such as CastPanda.
Can Infuse Chromecast from a Mac?
No. Infuse’s Google Cast support is for iPhone and iPad; casting from macOS isn’t supported. CastPanda casts to Chromecast and Google Cast TVs straight from the Mac.
Why won't my MKV file cast from Chrome?
Google Cast devices support MP4, WebM and MPEG-TS containers, not MKV or AVI, and Chrome often can’t play those files in a tab. CastPanda converts while casting, so MKV and AVI files play on your Chromecast.
Sources
Competitor details were checked on each vendor’s own website or App Store page in October 2026. Prices and features change; check the vendor’s site before you buy.
- CastPanda: features and pricing
- Airflow: official homepage (features, price, trial)
- Elmedia Player: PRO features
- Elmedia Video Player on the Mac App Store (PRO price, 5-minute streaming note)
- Beamer 4: official product page (Softorino)
- Beamer 4: Softorino store page
- Softorino store FAQ (trial and money-back guarantee)
- Firecore community: Google Cast support on macOS (Infuse)
- Firecore support: Google Cast 101 (iPhone and iPad)
- Google Support: Cast from Chrome to your TV
- Google Cast developer docs: Supported media