# Fast Player vs ELK PLAYER

Fast Player and ELK PLAYER both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 68% of Fast Player's written reviews are positive against 11% of ELK PLAYER's. Fast Player also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 15 months) and ratings volume (5K vs 4). ELK PLAYER's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fast Player sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year and ELK PLAYER sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Fast Player against 4.5 for ELK PLAYER. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fast Player has 5K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 68% of Fast Player's written reviews are positive against 11% of ELK PLAYER's.

Fast Player ships an update fortnightly, ELK PLAYER every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fast Player | ELK PLAYER |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fast-player-video-player/id1320554555/reviews) | [4.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elk-player/id1599337549/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **67.9% of reviews** | 11.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 161 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [章健 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566849627) | [ELKPLAYER LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599337551) |

## What reviewers say

### Fast Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fast-player-video-player/id1320554555)

This app plays nearly all audio and video formats, including M3U8 playlists and streaming videos. It offers advanced playback controls, custom subtitle support, and multiple file transfer methods. Secure your media with password protection and enjoy casting to your TV.

**Highlights:** Plays all audio/video formats, M3U8 playlist and IPTV support, Custom subtitle downloads, Multiple file transfer options, Cloud drive integration, Casting to TV (Chromecast, AirPlay), Archive file support, Password protection for privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual professional version | $3.99 | per year |
| Compress / unzip the file | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Passcode Lock | $0.99 | one-time |
| Professional Version | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and user-friendly
- 👍 Versatile and plays various file formats
- 💡 Useful for transferring and managing media files
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional freezing and crashing issues
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 📢 Intrusive ads in free version
- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and sharing

**Reported bugs**

- Videos not playing correctly or only showing audio
- App failing to remember playback position
- Issues with file format compatibility
- Unexpected app crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Add shuffle and repeat options
- Implement picture-in-picture mode
- Improve playlist management and file ordering
- Provide better Bluetooth/AirPlay support


### ELK PLAYER

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elk-player/id1599337549)

A powerful media player for iOS devices offering multi-language support, customizable themes, and easy access to your favorite content. It provides a fast playback experience and includes parental controls. The app is free to try for 7 days, with a one-time activation fee.

**Highlights:** Multi-Languages, Multi-themes, Fast player, Easy access, Manage favorites, Parent Lock, Wide codec support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Activation | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fast Player free?

Fast Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ELK PLAYER free?

ELK PLAYER is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Fast Player or ELK PLAYER?

Fast Player and ELK PLAYER are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5K and 4 ratings respectively.

### Do Fast Player or ELK PLAYER have ads?

Fast Player shows ads; ELK PLAYER does not.

### Which is updated more often, Fast Player or ELK PLAYER?

Fast Player ships an update fortnightly, and ELK PLAYER every 15 months. Most recently, Fast Player was updated on September 25, 2026 and ELK PLAYER on June 11, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*