Comparison
CastPanda vs Beamer
Both stream video files from your Mac to Apple TV, AirPlay 2 TVs and Chromecast, with playlists and track switching. CastPanda does it for a one-time price, with a 7-day trial instead of 24 hours.
Beamer, from Softorino, has streamed videos from Macs to Apple TVs for years, and Beamer 4 added Chromecast and AirPlay 2 TVs. CastPanda covers the same TVs, with playlists and audio track switching too, but you buy it once instead of subscribing, and you get a full week to try it.
We make CastPanda. Beamer details come from Softorino’s own pages, linked in the sources.
Quick verdict
Our pick: CastPanda
- Pay once. Softorino sells Beamer 4 only under its Universal License subscription; CastPanda is a one-time purchase with no account.
- A week to decide. CastPanda’s trial runs 7 days with every feature; Softorino’s free trial lasts 24 hours.
- Playlists, resume and track switching, included. Plus built-in text subtitles, any format and instant seeking.
At a glance
| Feature | CastPanda | Beamer 4 |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | One-time license | Subscription (Softorino Universal License) |
| Free trial | 7 days, every feature | 24 hours |
| MKV, AVI and other formats | Converted as it plays; jump anywhere instantly | Yes |
| Apple TV and AirPlay 2 TVs | Yes | Yes |
| Chromecast / Google Cast | Yes | Yes |
| Playlists and queue | Yes, including folders and M3U | Yes |
| Audio track selection | Yes | Yes |
| Embedded text subtitles | Yes | Yes |
| External subtitle files | Yes, with size, timing and background box | Yes |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Why CastPanda is the better choice
Streaming a video to the TV is something you do a few times a week, not something you should pay for every month. CastPanda does that job with one purchase and as few steps as possible.
- Pay once. No weekly or monthly billing, no renewal to remember, no account.
- Seven days to try it. Every feature for a week, so you can test it on real movie nights. Softorino’s free trial lasts 24 hours.
- Original quality when it can, light on your Mac when it can’t. H.264 videos in MP4 or MKV files, which TVs already play, are sent as they are, with no re-encoding. Everything else is converted on your Mac’s built-in media engine, which uses a fraction of the CPU that software encoding would. Either way, you can jump to any point instantly.
- Any format, instant seeking. A bundled ffmpeg handles MKV, AVI, WebM, WMV, FLV and more, preparing each part on demand, so jumping to any point starts right there.
- Playlists and resume. Drop several videos, a whole folder or an .m3u file and they play one after another; reorder by dragging and save the list as an M3U playlist. Reopen a video and it picks up where you stopped.
- Built-in subtitles and audio tracks. Text subtitle tracks inside MKV and MP4 files are listed and shown, and one marked default or forced turns on by itself. Files with several audio tracks, such as dubs or commentary, let you pick the one you want.
- Subtitles you can read from the couch. Separate .srt, .ass, .vtt and other subtitle files work too, and one named after the video is picked up automatically. CastPanda draws every subtitle into the picture in its own adjustable style, so it shows on any TV: change the size, nudge the timing and add a background box for bright scenes.
- 5.1 surround. 5.1 and 7.1 soundtracks are kept as 5.1 surround (7.1 is folded down), with a setting to switch back to stereo.
- AirPlay and Chromecast from one simple window. Drop a file, pick the TV, press play.
- Native and private. A SwiftUI Mac app that streams over your local network only and keeps your Mac awake during playback.
Pricing and trials
CastPanda is a one-time purchase of $9.99. The 7-day free trial includes every feature. See current pricing.
Softorino’s store says Beamer 4 is only available under its Universal License, a subscription. In October 2026, the Beamer store page listed a one-year plan at $3.46 per week billed annually and a one-month plan at $7.50 per week billed monthly, each starting with a $0.99 first day. Other Softorino pages, including Beamer’s own FAQ and help center, describe the price differently (one FAQ answer mentions a $35 license); see the sources. Softorino offers a 24-hour free trial.
The bottom line
If you want to stream video from your Mac to your TV without another subscription, CastPanda is the better choice. It covers the same TVs as Beamer, plays almost any format with instant skipping, sends files the TV already plays at original quality, and includes playlists, resume, track switching and readable subtitles, for one payment. Its 7-day trial gives you a week of real movie nights to be sure. Try CastPanda free for 7 days.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beamer a subscription?
Yes. Softorino’s store says Beamer 4 is only available under its Universal License, a subscription. In October 2026 the store listed monthly and yearly plans with a $0.99 first day, and Softorino’s own pages describe the price in different ways. CastPanda is a one-time purchase.
Is there a free trial of Beamer?
Softorino offers a 24-hour free trial, requested from the app on first launch. CastPanda’s free trial lasts 7 days with every feature.
Does CastPanda have playlists like Beamer?
Yes. Drop several videos, a folder or an .m3u file and CastPanda plays them one after another. You can reorder the list by dragging, remove videos, save it as an M3U playlist, and skip with Previous and Next, over AirPlay or 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.