macOS

Turn your scripts into videos on your Mac

A native macOS app for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Paste your script, let AI Director plan every shot, and export with Apple's own VideoToolbox encoder.

Download for Mac See pricing
  • Apple Silicon & Intel
  • Free for 7 days, no card
  • Native, no virtual machine
M1+ & Intel Macs supported, with a build for each
Native macOS app, no virtual machine
1 Licence that works on Mac and Windows
7 days Free trial with every feature
Made for macOS

A real Mac app, not Windows in disguise

Vid Optimus is a native macOS app. There is no Parallels, no Boot Camp and no compatibility layer. It runs directly on your Mac, with a separate download for Apple Silicon and for Intel.

Before it renders, Vid Optimus tests Apple's VideoToolbox encoder with a real encode using your export settings, then races it against the CPU and uses whichever is faster on your Mac. You don't have to set anything up.

  • Separate builds for Apple Silicon and Intel
  • Export with Apple's VideoToolbox encoder
  • Export 9:16 and 16:9 from the same project
  • Falls back to the CPU automatically
Built for macOS
On Mac

Everything you need to make videos on your Mac

The full Vid Optimus app, with every feature unlocked: AI Director, AI images and stock, voiceover, word-level captions and the timeline editor.

VideoToolbox export

Vid Optimus tests Apple's hardware encoder, races it against the CPU and renders with the faster one. No settings to change.

Apple Silicon and Intel

Pick the build for your Mac: M1, M2, M3 and newer, or an Intel-based Mac.

Shorts and YouTube sizes

Export 9:16 for Shorts and Reels, or 16:9 for YouTube, from the same project on your Mac.

Store projects on any drive

Move your project library to an external drive from Settings, so big projects never fill up your Mac.

Autosave, always on

Your project saves as you work. There is no save button, so closing the window loses nothing.

Move to a PC any time

Your licence works on macOS and Windows. Switch computers from your dashboard whenever you like.

See every feature

Get started

Make your first video on Mac in 3 steps

Everything comes in one download, so there is nothing else to install.

  1. 1 Download

    Download the right build

    Choose Apple Silicon for M1 or newer, or Intel for older Macs. Not sure? Check Apple menu, then About This Mac.

  2. 2 Settings

    Open it and add your keys

    The first time, right-click the app and choose Open. Then add your API keys in Settings. The built-in voice and stock need no key.

  3. 3 Script

    Paste a script and export

    Paste your script, turn on Auto mode, then export an MP4. Your 7-day trial starts when you first open the app.

Download for Mac Free for 7 days. No account or card needed.
Install guide

How to install Vid Optimus on Mac

Step by step, including what to do when Mac shows a security warning for a new app.

Install on your Mac About 2 minutes
  1. Download the right file. Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4) need the file ending in aarch64.dmg. Intel Macs need the file ending in x64.dmg. Not sure? Open the Apple menu, then About This Mac: it says Chip: Apple M… or Processor: Intel.
  2. Open the .dmg file and drag Vid Optimus into the Applications folder in the window that opens.
  3. Eject the installer. Right-click the Vid Optimus disk on your desktop or in Finder and choose Eject.
  4. Open it the first time with a right-click. In Applications, right-click (or Control-click) Vid Optimus, choose Open, then choose Open again in the box that appears. After this first time it opens normally.

If macOS says the app "is damaged and can't be opened", nothing is wrong with it. Follow the Terminal fix below.

Fix "Vid Optimus is damaged and can't be opened" One Terminal command
  1. Make sure the app is in Applications. The fix only works once you have dragged it there. Opening it straight from the installer window will not work.
  2. Open Terminal. Press Command and Space, type Terminal and press Return.
  3. Paste this command and press Return. It removes the "downloaded from the internet" mark macOS puts on new apps. 
    xattr -cr "/Applications/Vid Optimus.app"

    If nothing appears after you press Return, it worked. Terminal stays quiet when a command succeeds.

  4. Open Vid Optimus from Applications. From now on it opens like any other app.

Why this happens: Vid Optimus is not notarized with Apple yet, so macOS marks it as an unknown download. The command only removes that mark. It does not change the app or turn off any of your Mac's security.

Troubleshooting

Fixes for common Mac problems

Most of these are one-time security prompts, and each takes a minute to fix.

"Vid Optimus is damaged and can't be opened"

The app is fine. macOS shows this for downloaded apps that are not notarized with Apple. Move the app to Applications, then run this in Terminal:

xattr -cr "/Applications/Vid Optimus.app"

"Apple cannot check it for malicious software"

Right-click the app in Applications and choose Open, then Open again. Or open System Settings, then Privacy & Security, scroll to Security and choose Open Anyway.

"Operation not permitted" in Terminal

Run the command with sudo instead. It asks for your Mac login password, and nothing appears on screen while you type it. That is normal.

sudo xattr -cr "/Applications/Vid Optimus.app"

"No such file or directory" in Terminal

The app is not in your Applications folder yet, or it was renamed. Drag it into Applications from the installer window, then run the command again.

The app closes as soon as it opens

You probably have the build for the other kind of Mac. Delete the app from Applications, download the file that matches your chip (aarch64 for Apple Silicon, x64 for Intel), and install it again.

The built-in voice shows an error

Update to the latest version. Early Mac builds could not start the built-in voice on Apple Silicon, and this is fixed from version 0.1.2.

Update or remove

Updating and uninstalling

To update, download the new version and install it over the old one. Your projects and settings stay where they are.

Update

Download the new .dmg, drag Vid Optimus into Applications and choose Replace. Your projects, settings and licence are kept. If macOS shows the "damaged" message again, run the Terminal command once more.

Uninstall

Drag Vid Optimus from Applications to the Trash, then empty the Trash. Your projects stay in your project library folder.

System requirements

What your Mac needs

No special hardware. A hardware encoder makes exports faster, but Vid Optimus runs on any supported Mac and falls back to the CPU when it needs to.

Also on WindowsOne licence covers both. Move it any time.
  • Operating systemmacOS
  • ProcessorApple Silicon (M1 or newer) or Intel. Download the matching build.
  • Hardware encoderOptional. VideoToolbox speeds up export when available.
  • Disk spaceRoom for your projects, on your Mac or an external drive
  • InternetNeeded for AI images, stock, voiceover and transcription. Rendering runs on your Mac.
FAQ

Vid Optimus for Mac: your questions

Compatibility, hardware, installing and your licence.

Still have a question? Send us a message and we'll help you out. Contact us
Is Vid Optimus a real Mac app?

Yes. It is a native macOS app. There is no virtual machine, Parallels, Boot Camp or compatibility layer.

Does it work on Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes. There is a build for Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 and newer) and a separate build for Intel-based Macs.

Which Mac version should I download?

Choose Apple Silicon if your Mac has an M-series chip, and Intel if it has an Intel processor. You can check under Apple menu, then About This Mac.

Why does macOS say the app cannot be opened or is damaged?

macOS flags downloaded apps that are not notarized with Apple yet. Right-click the app and choose Open. If it says the app is damaged, move it to Applications and run xattr -cr "/Applications/Vid Optimus.app" in Terminal. See the install guide on this page.

Does export use my Mac's hardware?

Yes. Vid Optimus tests Apple's VideoToolbox encoder and renders with it when it's faster than the CPU on your Mac. Either way, the video comes out the same.

Do I need an internet connection?

Yes. AI images, stock search, voiceover and transcription use online providers, and your licence is checked online. The final video renders on your Mac.

Can I use my licence on a Windows PC too?

Yes. One licence works on macOS and Windows, on one computer at a time. Move it from your dashboard whenever you switch.

Try it free

Turn your next script into a video on your Mac.

Free for 7 days with every feature: up to 3 videos a day, scripts up to 5,000 characters, no watermark.

Download for Mac See pricing