Comparison

DaRa^2 vs ikPlayer Lite

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DaRa^2

This app allows you to play a wide variety of media, including music, videos, and web content, from multiple sources. Create playlists for continuous playback and enjoy background playback with automatic volume control and equalizer presets. It also offers remote control capabilities via Apple Watch.

Highlights
  • Play iTunes music and movies
  • Access media from apps and Photo Library
  • Stream videos from web pages
  • Integrates with iCloud Drive
  • Create and manage playlists
  • Background playback
  • Apple Watch remote control
Features
Read full description

It is an application that keeps playing by selecting various videos and music in various places. You can play iTunes music and movies, media stored in apps, videos in photo apps, videos on web pages and media on iCloud Drive. If you register the media you want to play in the playlist and start playback, repeat playback will start. You can also set to keep playing background. App controls media playback volume automatically. You can use preset iPod Equalizers. Switch tabs to locate the desired media and add it to the playlist with the plus button. The now playing screen is automatically displayed. You can add it even by long press. Preview playback can be temporarily performed on the media detail screen. In the meantime, playlist playback pauses. After preview playback is completed, you can set it to continue the original playback. [Apple Watch] app can remote control [iPhone DaRa^2] app. Play local media on [App Watch] app from Ver1.5.

About

ikPlayer Lite

Features
Read full description

Even a laptop from over 10 years ago has sufficient performance. By using a large-capacity external HDD to store the photos and videos stored on all the family's iPhones on a Windows PC set as an SMB server, if you can access it in the same wifi environment as the Windows server, all family members can access it smoothly at home. You can also import CDs and transfer music to the Windows server to share and enjoy with your family. Even if you don't have a Windows SMB server, it also supports network HDDs such as RECBOX. It's a long explanation, but I hope you'll read it all to understand what features it has. I'd also appreciate it if you could take a look at the app preview video and screenshots. What you can do with this app ・Find the Windows SMB servers in your home network ・You can access the SMB servers you find with a username and password ■What you can do before selecting a server *The list can be rearranged or deleted ・Last played ・All played history ・Favorite list. Select or All play(shuffle,Repeat) ・Favorite folders ・Playlist registered in playlist groups. Select or All play(shuffle,Repeat) ・Downloaded list & total size. Select or All play(offline) ・Videos,images from the camera roll in your iPhone with this app's high-performance media player(offline) ・Videos,music,images from files stored in your iPhone with this app's high-performance media player(offline) ・You can hide server names that you do not want to display when there are multiple SMB servers ・Detailed settings for the color and design of the SMB server list ・Setting to show/hide the status bar common to all apps. Setting the color when it is displayed ・If you turn on auto login, you can skip entering your username and password ・Back up and Restore data using the sharing function ■What you can do after selecting a server ・Display folders and files ・Play all files in a folder at once(Shuffle,Repeat) ・Folder and file display can be switched between list display and icon display ・Set thumbnails for folders. Thumbnails can be set from videos or the iPhone camera roll ・Image files are automatically displayed as thumbnails ・Set the display size and font size of folders and files ・Folder and file lists can be sorted by name, modification date and time, and size ・Detailed color design for folders and file lists ・Multiple files can be selected and added to a playlist ・Files can be downloaded, and downloaded files can be played offline ・A function to narrow down the display of files and folders using the search field ・A function to narrow down the display of files and folders by searching through sub-folders using the search field and Deep Search button ■What you can do with the media player after selecting a file ・Play videos and music. Show Image ・Switching Audio&Subtitle(Japanese and English,etc) ・Music can be played in the background (even in sleep mode) ・You can bookmark any playback position ・Check, edit, and jump to bookmark lists ・Rewind and fast forward ・Change aspect ratio ・15 second rewind and 30 second forward ・Screen lock ・Screen rotation ・Add to Favorite list ・Add to playlist ・Check playable list and jump playback.(Shuffle,Repeat) ・Set subtitle instead of file name ・Extract thumbnail from currently playing video ・Set thumbnail from camera roll ・Auto-play function when next file is available ・Function to set color design in detail ・Function related to sound as follows ・Equalizer ・Option to mute sound during playback ・Ability to adjust audio delay. (Memorized for each file) ・Ability to change playback speed ・Ability to loop playback between A & B ・The following gesture ・Change volume ・Change brightness ・Double tap left or right to fast forward or rewind 10 seconds ・Swipe left or right to fast forward or rewind(changes depending on the amount of swipe) ・Double tap for full screen(videos only) ・Swipe to end playback ・Control panel settings ・By mirroring from the Control Center, you can display videos on your TV just like with AirPlay Made in Japan

Screenshots

DaRa^23 screens
ikPlayer Lite4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DaRa^2 at none against ikPlayer Lite's 1. ikPlayer Lite's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ikPlayer Lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DaRa^2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DaRa^2 ships an update every 3 months, ikPlayer Lite daily. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
DaRa^2 versus ikPlayer Lite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDaRa^2ikPlayer Lite
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsDaily — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB57 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMasamune SekiIK Software

In-app purchases

None

DaRa^2

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ikPlayer Lite

One-time1
  • Pro&future features available$1.99

Questions

Is DaRa^2 free?
DaRa^2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ikPlayer Lite free?
ikPlayer Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DaRa^2 or ikPlayer Lite have ads?
DaRa^2 shows ads; ikPlayer Lite does not.
Which is updated more often, DaRa^2 or ikPlayer Lite?
DaRa^2 ships an update every 3 months, and ikPlayer Lite daily. Most recently, DaRa^2 was updated on October 24, 2026 and ikPlayer Lite on October 24, 2026.

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