# Fast Player vs AM3U

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AM3U at none against Fast Player's 5. AM3U also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 15.0). Fast Player's advantage is review sentiment (68% vs 43%) and ratings volume (5K vs 186). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fast Player sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. AM3U asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Fast Player against 4.6 for AM3U. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fast Player has 5K ratings behind it against 186, 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 43% of AM3U's.

Fast Player ships an update every 3 weeks, AM3U every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fast Player | AM3U |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fast-player-video-player/id1320554555/reviews) | **[4.6 (186 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/am3u/id6443454388/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5K** | 186 |
| Positive reviews | **67.9% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 161 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [章健 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566849627) | [汝泉 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/904558410) |

## 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


### AM3U

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/am3u/id6443454388)

This application allows you to watch IPTV streams on your mobile device. It functions solely as a player, requiring you to add your own playlists via iCloud, URL, GitHub, or sharing from other apps. Supports M3U, M3U8, and TXT playlist formats.

**Highlights:** Watch IPTV streams, Add playlists via URL, Add playlists via iCloud, Add playlists via GitHub, Share playlists from other apps, Supports M3U, M3U8, TXT formats

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fast Player free?

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

### Is AM3U free?

AM3U is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Fast Player or AM3U?

AM3U is rated higher. Fast Player averages 4.5 out of 5 from 5K ratings, while AM3U averages 4.6 from 186 ratings.

### Do Fast Player or AM3U have ads?

Both Fast Player and AM3U show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fast Player or AM3U?

Fast Player ships an update every 3 weeks, and AM3U every 2 days. Most recently, Fast Player was updated on November 8, 2026 and AM3U on November 3, 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.*