hPlayer vs Cathode Player
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
hPlayer
A versatile media player that supports numerous video and audio formats without transcoding. Easily import files via WiFi or iTunes, manage them with folder support, and enjoy playback with intuitive gesture controls. It also includes document viewing capabilities.
- Supports many video formats
- WiFi file import
- iTunes file import
- Folder management
- Gesture controls for playback
- Plays audio files
- Views documents (PDF, Word, Excel)
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This is a simple interface, powerful universal video player, you can download computer videos, animation, movies and other media files in any format through WiFi to hPlayer for broadcast. * Support many video formats without transcoding * Support sliding fast forward * Support locking screen in play mode * Support folder to manage files * Support for importing files through Wifi * Support for importing files through iTunes * Some formats support hardware decoding * Support videos playing on TV through DLNA * Support to play audio files. * Support to view images by image browser. * Import or open files form other applications. [Document Management] - Delete, move, rename, create folders - Supporting WiFi transmission, transferring files without connecting data lines - Support iTunes import function [Gesture Function] - Horizontal slide: adjust play position - Vertical sliding on the left side of the screen: adjust the volume - Vertical sliding on the right side of the screen: adjusting brightness - Double-click: play/pause [Other functions] - Browse PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other documents More features are under development, if you have any comments or ideas, please welcome harassment: chedahuang@icloud.com
Cathode Player
A native video viewer for following channels and watching content across your Apple devices. Enjoy a fast, lightweight experience with features like picture-in-picture, background audio, and cross-device sync via iCloud. Discover new content with curated channel suggestions.
- Follow channels and view latest videos
- Search for videos and channels
- Native player with picture-in-picture and background audio
- Save videos to Watch Later
- Cross-device playback progress sync
- Curated channel suggestions
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Cathode is a clean, native video viewer for following channels and watching content on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Built with SwiftUI for a fast, lightweight experience. FEATURES • Follow channels and see all their latest videos in one feed • Search for videos and channels • Watch shorts and regular videos with a native player • Picture-in-picture, background audio, and AirPlay support • Save videos to Watch Later • Pick up where you left off — playback progress syncs across your devices via your private iCloud account • Read comments • Compact mini-player while you keep browsing • Curated channel suggestions across Tech, Science, Programming, Cooking, and Lifestyle to help you get started CROSS-DEVICE SYNC Watch Later, history, and saved channels are stored in your private iCloud account so they are always with you. Nothing is sent to our servers. PRIVACY Cathode does not collect personal information, has no analytics, and does not require an account. Your data stays on your device or in your private iCloud.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Cathode Player at Free against hPlayer's $0.99. Cathode Player also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.9) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). hPlayer's advantage is ratings volume (69 vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.1). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Cathode Player is free to download; hPlayer costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Cathode Player holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: hPlayer has 69 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of hPlayer's written reviews are positive against 67% of Cathode Player's.
hPlayer ships an update every 3 weeks, Cathode Player every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | hPlayer | Cathode Player |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (69 ratings) | 4.2 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 65.6% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 69 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 26.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 成达 黄 | Zabir Raihan |
Customer experience
hPlayer
Cathode Player
In-app purchases
hPlayer
No in-app purchases
Cathode Player
No in-app purchases
