# Orto - For Sonos — user reviews

> 27 indexed App Store user reviews of Orto by BlockBooks Accounting Ltd, rated 4.00/5 from 45 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orto-for-sonos/id1558120893/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orto-for-sonos/id1558120893.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 30 · 4★ 2 · 3★ 2 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 7

## Newest reviews (7 of 27)

### 2/5 — Good concept but unreliable

*2026-05-09*

Works good when it works, most of the time it doesn’t have the connections it needs. Nice app, and great ui, but unreliable.

### 2/5 — Not at all useful

*2025-11-21*

The promise is grand but the actual use is no better than the actual iOS Sonos UI.

### 3/5 — Not bad

*2023-09-30*

I wish the UI was nicer. Let users change the colors and change the background color to match album art. Monthly fee is a bit ridiculous too.

### 2/5 — Great App, but it needs Apple Watch functionality updates

*2023-08-25*

I really want to love this app. But I am having trouble with the Apple Watch app. I love to disconnect from my phone as I use Sonos speakers to whine down. But every time I try to initiate a shortcut or even a favorite playlist to play I continuously have to sync with iPhone and it doesn’t register that I am a premium user. Please fix this Apple Watch app!

### 3/5 — Too Slow

*2023-07-17*

Album art on Apple TV updates way too slowly. Usually like 20 seconds after song starts.

### 2/5 — Month fee

*2022-06-04*

They charge a monthly fee to use the basic Functionality of the app it’s only a dollar a month but still it should just be a flat fee like 20 bucks five bucks or something along that line

### 1/5 — Slow and buggy

*2022-02-08*

This app could be really great but it is slow and buggy. You scroll up and down your zones and volumes start randomly changing. The Sonos app needs so many automation features that any developer who can come up with some thing will save us all. Especially for those who want to automate their home and provide more power for shortcuts

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Lockscreen Fail

*2026-04-24*

I bought this for lockscreen controls and doesn’t appear half the time and when it does, it doesn’t work!  I WANT MY MONEY BACK!!!!

### 1/5 — Not worth $.50

*2026-03-14*

I thought by getting the app that cost money I would get what I paid for it. This app is not worth paying money for there is a free app that you can get. Try LYD

### 1/5 — Funktioniert nicht

*2026-01-21*

Man kann nicht über den Bildschirm laut und leise machen. Über die Tasten funktioniert es nur begrenzt. Widgets funktionieren nicht. Ich hätte gerne meine 7€ zurück

### 1/5 — Didn't work on my new Apple TV

*2025-10-20*

I paid the money, downloaded the App and got a blank screen through my Apple TV.

### 1/5 — Ios 26 probleem

*2025-09-19, version 7.2*

Sedert de installatie van ios26 sluit de app ogenblikkelijk af van zodra de app werd opstart!
Was een enorme fan van orto voor Sonos!
Hopelijk wordt het spoedig gefixed!!

### 1/5 — Don’t do it

*2025-04-11*

Complete waste of money absolutely no way to switch music etc other than next button

### 1/5 — Won’t work with Apple TV..

*2024-07-04*

..which is the only reason I wanted it. Just gets stuck in authorization loop. I guess there’s a reason 3rd party apps are invariably awful. Lesson-learned. Would appreciate my $6.99 back.

**Developer response:** Hello, I’m sorry to hear this is happening. I’m not aware of it being a bug but will investigate, I know it is not normal experience

### 1/5 — Installation fehlgeschlagen

*2023-11-18*

Nach der Installation auf dem Mac erschien ein QR-Code zum scannen. Der QR-Code war für das IOS Gerät (Iphone) ohne Inhalt und Funktion..., schade

### 1/5 — Not working

*2023-04-06*

Crashes every time. Signed up for premium, still doesn’t work on Apple TV. 
Simply not working. 
Please fix it - I love the idea but ..

### 1/5 — Werkt slecht

*2022-11-11, version 2.6*

Zelfs het volume regelen van aparte luidsprekers werkt niet, luidsprekers beginnen dan hun eigen leven te leiden.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Lock Screen Controls for Sonos.  Thankfully

*2026-06-10*

Sonos used to allow lock screen controls but due to Apple’s stupid restrictions these have gone away. Nothing like having to unlock your phone and search for your Sonos app, launch it and wait just to turn your volume down or skip a track.  I was shocked when I found Orto. Because somehow it cleverly gets around this stupid restriction. I’m happy to say it works. Pretty consistently. It does some work around on hardware volume controls so it’s not as responsive as the old Sonos controller or Airplay experience. But it works.  It’s fairly priced and is well thought out. If lock screen controls are important to you Orto will put a smile on your face.

### 5/5 — Endlich Shortcuts

*2024-12-13*

Funktioniert prima und endlich ist die Steuerung über Shortcuts und Siri möglich.

### 5/5 — Franchement bien

*2024-10-20*

Dommage que les boutons soient si petits même en grand widget et que l'on ne puisse accéder à l'app sonos directement, contrairement à Sono+

### 5/5 — So Far So Good

*2023-10-28*

The shortcut functions and widgets work well. The monthly subscription seems reasonable, but I would ask the developer to add an annual option (maybe $9.99/year). Otherwise, so far so good!

### 5/5 — Mieux que l’appli d’origine

*2022-10-28*

Après des mois de recherche je trouve enfin une appli qui me permet de commander mon système sonos depuis l’extérieur sans être connecté à mon réseau wifi!
Et ça marche parfaitement

### 4/5 — Like this but…

*2024-11-09*

Okay, so this is great, grand, glorious… But it only lets you instantly play songs slash albums that you have registered. But I don’t ALWAYS want D&D battle music or Harry Nilsson. So in summary, this has its pros and cons, so I respect its choices but like everything, it has downsides.

### 4/5 — Simple

*2024-03-12*

I'd asked for a refund from Apple, I was having trouble with my old menu bar app. Now that's sorted I may keep.
Orto adds a nice display from the menu bar on an iMac, and on the iPhone it provides music controls from the locked screen, worth $10

### 4/5 — Great App, Enhance synchronization

*2023-07-26*

Orto Developers? 

This is a great app, and I want to love it, however, I have seen issues with the different devices not remembering my subscription. I have to reset on each device every time I want to use the app. Please enhance functionality. 

Thanks

### 3/5 — Too expensive and buggy

*2025-09-04*

I can’t search in Apple Music due to a bug. I can’t access my Apple Music Library.

### 3/5 — TVOS - Needs Updating

*2024-12-17*

Great app, tvOS app needs an update. Layout could be much improved. Should default to Now playing with full album art, and remove some of the yellow, or allow customisable colours. Needs to be more polished. Should also grab artist artwork and maybe lyrics. More options required, otherwise great app!

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-30.*