# Shure PLAY vs Fairbuds

The clearest difference is rating: Shure PLAY at 4.5 against Fairbuds's 2.8. Shure PLAY also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 13%) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 5). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Shure PLAY holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shure PLAY has 1.2K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Shure PLAY's written reviews are positive against 13% of Fairbuds's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shure PLAY | Fairbuds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shure-play/id1326288926/reviews)** | [2.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fairbuds/id6446320945/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **43.6% of reviews** | 13.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 71 MB | 93 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shure](https://appshunter.io/developer/849092213) | [Fairphone B.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1677310864) |

## What reviewers say

### Shure PLAY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shure-play/id1326288926)

This app allows users to personalize their Shure AONIC wireless listening products. It offers advanced EQ customization, adjustable noise cancellation, and a built-in high-resolution music player for an enhanced audio experience.

**Highlights:** Customize Shure AONIC product settings, Parametric EQ for audio customization, Save EQ settings to device, Adjust Environment Mode, Active Noise Cancellation control, High-res music player

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great sound quality
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎨 Excellent EQ customization
- 🔋 Good battery life
- 🎧 Works well with Shure headphones

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔌 Connectivity issues with some devices
- 🔊 Volume control problems
- 📚 Limited music library integration
- 🕰️ Slow app performance

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to update firmware
- Inconsistent Bluetooth pairing
- Music playback issues after iOS updates
- Unreliable battery level reporting

**Requested features**

- Ability to use EQ with other music apps
- Playlist import and management
- Firmware update support for more Shure products
- Improved multi-device connectivity
- Customizable button controls


### Fairbuds

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fairbuds/id6446320945)

Customize your audio experience with advanced equalizer settings and ensure your device is always up-to-date. Tailor bass, vocals, and more to your preferences for music and podcasts.

**Highlights:** Customizable equalizer presets, Multi-band EQ for granular control, Firmware update notifications, Sound profile creation, Adjust bass and vocals

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shure PLAY free?

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

### Is Fairbuds free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shure PLAY or Fairbuds?

Shure PLAY is rated higher. Shure PLAY averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Fairbuds averages 2.8 from 5 ratings.

### Do Shure PLAY or Fairbuds have ads?

Neither Shure PLAY nor Fairbuds shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shure PLAY or Fairbuds?

Shure PLAY ships an update every 2 months, and Fairbuds every 2 months. Most recently, Shure PLAY was updated on October 25, 2026 and Fairbuds on October 24, 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.*