Comparison

PlainPlay vs fastPlayer

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

Head to head
About

PlainPlay

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
Read full description

My file manager – supports almost all file formats. Online courses downloaded from the web or shared by teachers are easy to import. With full-format playback, you can watch them anytime, anywhere with no data usage — with loop playback, sequential playback, and variable-speed support. A convenient learning video player that makes your study easier. Import files to your phone in multiple ways (iTunes file sharing via cable, LAN Wi-Fi web transfer, and phone-to-phone transfer) for fast management of local files. Supports file classification, sorting, editing, searching, and quick browsing and playback. • Classification: Video, Audio, Photos, Documents • Sorting: Name, manual order, file size, modification date, creation date • Edit: Select all, delete, compress • Search: Search by file name • Privacy: Gesture lock, fingerprint & Face ID; file hiding and file encryption Video and audio support continuous playback and single-loop playback; audio supports background playback, skipping intros and outros. File management: Create folders and move or import files directly. Web download: Download and manage web content directly. TV live streaming: HD live streams of major TV channels. Markdown preview and editing supported. 【Auto-Renewable Membership】 1. Service name: Auto-renewing membership. 2. Price: $1.49/month, $6.99/year, $12.99 lifetime (one-time purchase). 3. Payment is charged to your iTunes account 24 hours before each renewal period ends, extending the membership for one month. 4. To cancel: open "Settings" → "iTunes Store & App Store" → tap "Apple ID" → "View Apple ID" → "Account Settings" → "Subscriptions", and cancel the PlainPlay membership subscription. If not cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends, the subscription renews automatically. 5. Terms of Use: https://xiaodev.com.cn/terms.html 6. Privacy Policy: https://xiaodev.com.cn/privacy.html If you find bugs, infringements, unmet needs, or have other opinions or suggestions about the service, please contact us — we will do our best to improve these issues in the next version. Contact: xiaodeve@163.com .

About

fastPlayer

A versatile local media player supporting numerous audio and video formats. It offers seamless file transfers from your computer and features like variable playback speed, background playback, and intuitive gesture controls for an enhanced media experience.

Highlights
  • Supports wide range of audio/video formats
  • Direct file transfer via iTunes, SMB, WiFi
  • Variable playback speed control
  • Background playback for audio/video
  • Intuitive gesture controls for brightness, volume, playback
  • File management with folders and sorting
  • Image viewing and editing
  • ZIP and RAR compression/decompression
Features
Read full description

fastPlayer is a versatile local media player that supports a wide range of audio and video formats. It allows direct video transfers from your computer to your device via iTunes, SMB, or WiFi. The app is stable, feature-rich, and easy to use. [CarPlay Support] Compatible with CarPlay systems, enabling playback of local music files stored on your mobile device. [Variable Speed Playback] Adjust the playback speed freely—speed up or slow down as needed. Double-speed playback is ideal for learning from video tutorials efficiently. [Intuitive Controls] Swipe left to adjust brightness, swipe right to control volume, and double-tap to pause or play. [Background Playback] Videos continue playing even when the app is running in the background. [Multiple Transfer Methods] Wired transfer via iTunes file sharing. Wireless transfer over WiFi—files are saved locally and can be played offline. [File Management] Create folders for organized classification and sort files using multiple criteria. [Image Viewing and Editing] Supports viewing and editing of various image formats. [File Compression and Decompression] Compatible with RAR and ZIP formats for both compression and extraction. [Document Support] Browse and edit multiple document types, including PDF, Office files, and TXT documents. Contact: coderlsw@gmail.com

Screenshots

PlainPlay4 screens
fastPlayer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: fastPlayer at none against PlainPlay's shown. fastPlayer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5). PlainPlay's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (31 vs 5). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PlainPlay sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and fastPlayer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

fastPlayer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PlainPlay has 31 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlainPlay ships an update weekly, fastPlayer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PlainPlay versus fastPlayer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlainPlayfastPlayer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (31 ratings)4.8 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings31 — better5
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB58 MB
Age rating4+17+
Developer景元 肖少为 刘

Customer experience

PlainPlay

All ratings31 ratings
Positive87.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative9.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

fastPlayer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

PlainPlay

Subscriptions3
  • 月会员$1.491 Month
  • 季度会员$3.993 Months
  • Annual membership$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Membership$12.99
1 purchases

fastPlayer

One-time1
  • Upgrade to Pro Version$3.99

Questions

Is PlainPlay free?
PlainPlay is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is fastPlayer free?
fastPlayer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PlainPlay or fastPlayer?
fastPlayer is rated higher. PlainPlay averages 4.5 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while fastPlayer averages 4.8 from 5 ratings.
Do PlainPlay or fastPlayer have ads?
PlainPlay shows ads; fastPlayer does not.
Which is updated more often, PlainPlay or fastPlayer?
PlainPlay ships an update weekly, and fastPlayer every 3 weeks. Most recently, PlainPlay was updated on October 29, 2026 and fastPlayer on October 24, 2026.

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