# Bose vs Sonos

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bose at none against Sonos's 1. Bose also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (47% vs 17%). Sonos's advantage is ratings volume (927K vs 178K). On price, update cadence, monetization model and chart position there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sonos sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Bose asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bose holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sonos has 927K ratings behind it against 178K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Bose's written reviews are positive against 17% of Sonos's.

Bose ships an update monthly, Sonos fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bose | Sonos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (178K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bose/id1364986984/reviews)** | [4.6 (927K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonos/id1488977981/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 178K | **927K** |
| Positive reviews | **47.1% of reviews** | 17.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#11** | #20 |
| Size | 1.0 GB | 208 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Bose Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/425230041) | [Sonos, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/293523034) |

## What reviewers say

### Bose

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bose/id1364986984)

**Currently charting:** #11 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

Control all your Bose audio products from a single app. Personalize noise cancellation, customize EQ settings, and set up your devices for seamless listening. Access your favorite music services and playlists with one-touch ease.

**Highlights:** Unified control for Bose products, Controllable noise cancellation, Customizable EQ settings, One-touch music presets, Integrated music streaming

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy setup and programming
- 🔊 Impressive sound quality
- 👍 Useful app features
- 💡 Customizable EQ and noise cancelling

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues and app crashes
- 🔌 Unreliable Bluetooth connection
- 🤖 Lack of accessibility and voice control options
- 🤔 Confusing app layout and navigation

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently fails to recognize connected devices
- Noise cancelling settings revert to default unexpectedly
- Bluetooth pairing and reconnection issues
- Forced firmware updates causing sound quality degradation

**Requested features**

- Add landscape mode support for iPad
- Improve multi-device connectivity and switching
- Provide more customization options for noise cancelling
- Integrate with more music services like Apple Music


### Sonos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonos/id1488977981)

**Currently charting:** #20 Top Free · Music, #26 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

This app centralizes your music and audio content for seamless control of your home sound system. Easily manage playback across multiple rooms, discover new music, and personalize your listening experience with saved favorites and custom settings.

**Highlights:** Unified content and control, Multi-room audio playback, Streaming service integration, Personalized music library, Easy product setup, Voice control integration

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sonos Radio HD Monthly | $9.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless upgrade process
- 🔒 Robust connectivity
- 👍 Great sound quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
- 🔍 Confusing and buggy app
- ⏱️ Slow and unresponsive app
- 🔄 Speakers randomly disappearing
- 🤯 Frustrating app updates

**Reported bugs**

- App unable to connect to speakers
- Speakers not recognized after updates
- Inconsistent volume and playback controls

**Requested features**

- Improved app stability and responsiveness
- Restore legacy features (alarms, queues, etc.)
- Customizable app interface


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bose free?

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

### Is Sonos free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bose or Sonos?

Bose is rated higher. Bose averages 4.8 out of 5 from 178K ratings, while Sonos averages 4.6 from 927K ratings.

### Do Bose or Sonos have ads?

Sonos shows ads; Bose does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bose or Sonos?

Bose ships an update monthly, and Sonos fortnightly. Most recently, Bose was updated on September 25, 2026 and Sonos on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Bose or Sonos?

Bose currently peaks at #11 in the App Store charts, and Sonos at #20. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*