# MPDPlayer vs JPLAY

The clearest difference is monetization model: MPDPlayer at free with in-app purchases against JPLAY's subscription. JPLAY's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (52 vs 6). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MPDPlayer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per year and JPLAY sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for MPDPlayer against 4.3 for JPLAY. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: JPLAY has 52 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of MPDPlayer's written reviews are positive against 59% of JPLAY's.

MPDPlayer ships an update every 6 weeks, JPLAY every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 9, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MPDPlayer | JPLAY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mpdplayer/id1382797572/reviews) | [4.3 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **52** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 58.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 26 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adrian Berisha](https://appshunter.io/developer/1382797571) | [Marcin Ostapowicz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1608773459) |

## What reviewers say

### MPDPlayer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mpdplayer/id1382797572)

Control your MPD server with this app, featuring queue management, playlist editing, and server search. Unlock advanced features like widget and watch app control through an optional subscription.

**Highlights:** Control current queue, List recently added songs, Add and modify playlists, Search MPD server, Widget control (IAP), Watch app control (IAP)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (1 Year) | $1.99 | per year |


### JPLAY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457)

This app is a high-fidelity music player designed for audiophiles. It seamlessly integrates streaming services like Qobuz and Tidal with local music files, offering a unified interface for all your audio content. Experience superior sound quality and discover new music through its intuitive design and advanced features.

**Highlights:** Plays Qobuz, Tidal, and local music files, Works with most streamers and network DACs, HQPlayer Control API integration, Dramatically better sound quality, Radio feature for music discovery, Extended playlist management, Artist bios and album reviews

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| JPLAY Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $149.00 | one-time |
| JPLAY Lifetime | $199.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Superior sound quality compared to competitors
- 👍 Intuitive and clean user interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive app performance
- 🔌 Seamless UPnP/DLNA integration
- 📱 Works without requiring a server

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription pricing ($50/year, $199 lifetime)
- ❌ No monthly subscription option available
- 🐛 Frequent connectivity and playback issues
- 📱 iOS-only application
- 🔄 No cross-device synchronization

**Reported bugs**

- Tracks fail to render or play from Tidal
- App crashes on startup with older iOS versions
- Playback stuttering and lag issues
- Renderer in transition errors
- Device discovery failures

**Requested features**

- Monthly subscription option
- Cross-device synchronization for playlists and favorites
- EQ and tone adjustment controls
- DSD file playback support
- Multi-room audio capability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MPDPlayer free?

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

### Is JPLAY free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MPDPlayer or JPLAY?

MPDPlayer and JPLAY are both rated 4.3 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6 and 52 ratings respectively.

### Do MPDPlayer or JPLAY have ads?

MPDPlayer shows ads; JPLAY does not.

### Which is updated more often, MPDPlayer or JPLAY?

MPDPlayer ships an update every 6 weeks, and JPLAY every 3 weeks. Most recently, MPDPlayer was updated on June 9, 2026 and JPLAY on September 25, 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.*