Comparison

KENWOOD Remote vs JBL One

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

KENWOOD Remote

Control compatible car receivers wirelessly via Bluetooth. Adjust audio settings, view source information, and even use gesture controls for playback. It also functions as a standalone music player when not connected.

Highlights
  • Wireless remote control
  • Gesture control for playback
  • Standalone music player
  • Audio settings adjustment (EQ, Time Alignment)
  • Display receiver source information
Read full description

KENWOOD Remote is an application that connects and controls compatible KENWOOD car receivers via Bluetooth® like a wireless remote control. This application can also display KENWOOD car receiver’s source information on the smartphone’s screen, and enables the user to make an audio setting using application's easy to use graphic user interface. Application can also work as a free standalone music player application, when the unit is not connected to the headunit. INNOVATIVE GESTURE CONTROL You can command basic controls such as pause, skip or repeat simply by finger gesture operations on the screen of the smartphone. Also, you can make a search for a specific song, album or an artist from your playlist. RECEIVER SETTING USING SMARTPHONE GUI Audio settings, such as Time Alignment and EQ setting can be easily be set using the KENWOOD Remote application's easy to use graphic user interface. Note: Depends on the model. KEY FEATURES ・Remote Control Function (by Gesture Control or by Remote Control Screen) ・Standalone Music Player ・Receiver Setting(Depends on the model) ・Display Receiver Information CAUTION Do not operate any functions that takes your attention away from safe driving. System requirements: iOS8.0 and above

About

JBL One

Easily set up and control your JBL Wi-Fi speakers, soundbars, and PartyBox products. Personalize your audio experience with custom EQ settings, manage all your devices, and stream music from integrated services.

Highlights
  • Step-by-step setup guidance
  • Customizable EQ settings
  • Multi-device management
  • Stereo pairing and multi-channel grouping
  • Integrated music player and streaming services
  • Lighting accessory control for PartyBox
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The official app for setting up and controlling JBL Wi-Fi & Bluetooth speakers, Soundbar, PartyBox and BandBox products. Connect to Wi-Fi, customize EQ and control your compatible device with a single convenient app. The JBL One app helps you to easily set up the devices, personalize settings, and use the integrated music services to enjoy your favorite songs. Features: - Breeze through setup with step-by-step guidance. - Customize speaker and soundbar EQ setting. - Manage all your devices and check their connection status, battery level, playback content all at a glance. - Stereo pair or group your speakers into a multi-channel system for elevated listening experience.* - Personalize your music experience, save favorite ambient audio or playlists for quick and easy access. - Control music playback from the integrated music player. - Access a variety of music streaming services, Internet radio, and podcasts in high definition. - Create a captivating symphony of sound and illumination by connecting PartyBox with its companion lighting accessories. - Keep device software updated, to enjoy the latest features. - Get product support. *Feature availability depends on product model.

Screenshots

KENWOOD Remote1 screens
JBL One4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: JBL One at 4.7 against KENWOOD Remote's 1.9. JBL One also leads on review sentiment (40% vs 6%) and ratings volume (7.9K vs 263). KENWOOD Remote's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

JBL One holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: JBL One has 7.9K ratings behind it against 263, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 6% of KENWOOD Remote's written reviews are positive against 40% of JBL One's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KENWOOD Remote ships an update every 3 months, JBL One every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
KENWOOD Remote versus JBL One: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKENWOOD RemoteJBL One
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.9 (263 ratings)4.7 (7.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews5.6% of reviews40.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2637.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#21 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better16
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB244 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJVCKENWOOD CorporationHarman International Industries

Customer experience

KENWOOD Remote

All ratings263 ratings
Positive18.6%
Neutral5.7%
Negative75.7%
Written reviews144 reviews
Positive5.6%
Neutral2.1%
Negative92.4%

JBL One

All ratings7,939 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral2.5%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews519 reviews
Positive40.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative47.0%

User reviews

KENWOOD Remote

From 263 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Works great when connected
  • 👍 Useful for controlling receiver settings

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequently disconnects
  • 🔍 Poor user interface and navigation
  • 🔌 Compatibility issues with newer devices
  • 🕰️ Resets clock on receiver
  • 🔀 Struggles to control USB playback

JBL One

From 7.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great soundstage
  • 👍 Fantastic sonic performance
  • 👍 Useful remote feature
  • 👍 Versatile connectivity options
  • 👍 Sleek and modern design

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Equalizer issues and changes
  • 🐛 Connectivity problems with WiFi and Bluetooth
  • 🐛 Buggy app features and crashes
  • 🔋 Battery life and charging concerns
  • 🙁 Missing key features like Apple Music support

Bugs and requests

KENWOOD Remote

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Fails to connect consistently
  • Randomly starts playing audio
  • Displays incorrect album art
  • Crashes and freezes frequently

Requested features

4 requests
  • Landscape mode support for iPad
  • Gesture controls for volume and scanning
  • Faster, real-time EQ adjustments
  • Ability to browse music library on connected devices

JBL One

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Equalizer settings randomly changing
  • Moment button not working as expected
  • Tidal login issues and errors
  • Firmware update check on every app launch
  • Connectivity problems with mesh WiFi networks

Requested features

5 requests
  • Preset EQ settings for different genres
  • Subwoofer-only volume adjustment
  • Option to turn speaker on/off from the app
  • Improved Airplay and Alexa integration
  • Support for higher-resolution audio formats

In-app purchases

None

KENWOOD Remote

No in-app purchases

None

JBL One

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is KENWOOD Remote free?
KENWOOD Remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is JBL One free?
JBL One is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, KENWOOD Remote or JBL One?
JBL One is rated higher. KENWOOD Remote averages 1.9 out of 5 from 263 ratings, while JBL One averages 4.7 from 7.9K ratings.
Do KENWOOD Remote or JBL One have ads?
Neither KENWOOD Remote nor JBL One shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KENWOOD Remote or JBL One?
KENWOOD Remote ships an update every 3 months, and JBL One every 6 weeks. Most recently, KENWOOD Remote was updated on September 23, 2026 and JBL One on September 24, 2026.

Other comparisons