# PlainPlay vs Mars Player

PlainPlay and Mars Player both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of PlainPlay's written reviews are positive against 0% of Mars Player's. PlainPlay also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (31 vs 3). Mars Player's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PlainPlay sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Mars Player sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PlainPlay holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PlainPlay has 31 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of PlainPlay's written reviews are positive against 0% of Mars Player's.

PlainPlay ships an update weekly, Mars Player every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PlainPlay | Mars Player |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plainplay/id1469851328/reviews)** | [4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-player/id1604039065/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **31** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 130 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [景元 肖](https://appshunter.io/developer/1184757516) | [Biss](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449112206) |

## What reviewers say

### PlainPlay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plainplay/id1469851328)

This app is a versatile media player and file manager that supports numerous formats. It allows offline playback of downloaded courses with features like loop and variable speed, and offers robust file management with privacy options. It also includes web downloading and TV live streaming capabilities.

**Highlights:** Full-format media playback, Offline course viewing, Loop and variable speed playback, Multiple file import methods, File classification and sorting, Gesture lock and fingerprint/Face ID, Web content downloading

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 月会员 | $1.49 | per month |
| 季度会员 | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual membership | $6.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Membership | $12.99 | one-time |


### Mars Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-player/id1604039065)

This application serves as a straightforward local audio player. It enables users to create playlists, upload audio files from their computers, and organize them. The app focuses on essential playback features without unnecessary complexity.

**Highlights:** Create playlists, Upload audio files, Add files to playlists, Loop audio files, Simple interface

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-Free Experience (1 Month) | $0.99 | per month |
| Ad-Free Experience (3 Months) | $1.99 | per 3 months |
| Ad-Free Experience (6 Months) | $2.99 | per 6 months |
| Ad-Free Experience (1 Year) | $3.99 | per year |
| Ad-Free for Life | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PlainPlay free?

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

### Is Mars Player free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PlainPlay or Mars Player?

PlainPlay is rated higher. PlainPlay averages 4.5 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Mars Player averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do PlainPlay or Mars Player have ads?

PlainPlay shows ads; Mars Player does not.

### Which is updated more often, PlainPlay or Mars Player?

PlainPlay ships an update weekly, and Mars Player every 5 weeks. Most recently, PlainPlay was updated on October 29, 2026 and Mars Player on October 21, 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.*