# M3Player vs The Public Variable

The clearest difference is price: The Public Variable at Free against M3Player's $3.99. The Public Variable also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). M3Player's advantage is ratings volume (589 vs 2). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

The Public Variable is free to download; M3Player costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

The Public Variable holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: M3Player has 589 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

M3Player ships an update every 11 days, The Public Variable every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | M3Player | The Public Variable |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (589 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/m3player-m3u-iptv-player/id1470774095/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-public-variable/id6741500963/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **589** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 84.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 27 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Jianfeng Wu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435210283) | [John Sullivan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1630479388) |

## What reviewers say

### M3Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/m3player-m3u-iptv-player/id1470774095)

Listen to YouTube playlists and videos in audio-only mode, saving your device's screen and battery. Record streams for offline playback, ensuring uninterrupted listening without data or signal concerns.

**Highlights:** Background audio playback, Audio-only mode, Screen and battery saving, Record video streams, Offline playback, No data/signal required for offline

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app for audiobooks
- 🚀 Works fantastic
- 👍 Solves problems perfectly
- 👍 Excellent app
- 👍 Fantastic, useful app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes when trying to upload
- 🐛 Hangs when encountering partially played songs
- 🔒 Limited to 100 videos per playlist

**Reported bugs**

- Playlist import not working
- Time display issues when using for audiobooks

**Requested features**

- Add support for Apple Watch
- Add option to change playback speed
- Add in-app download and save for offline listening
- Add sleep timer
- Add shuffle feature for playlists


### The Public Variable

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-public-variable/id6741500963)

Experience a unique augmented reality theatre piece exploring perspective and communication. This evolving digital space will eventually host the full production, offering an immersive artistic experience accessible from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality theatre, Perspective exploration, Immersive digital space, Evolving content, Accessible anywhere

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is M3Player free?

M3Player costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Public Variable free?

The Public Variable is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, M3Player or The Public Variable?

The Public Variable is rated higher. M3Player averages 4.7 out of 5 from 589 ratings, while The Public Variable averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do M3Player or The Public Variable have ads?

Neither M3Player nor The Public Variable shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, M3Player or The Public Variable?

M3Player ships an update every 11 days, and The Public Variable every 2 weeks. Most recently, M3Player was updated on October 25, 2026 and The Public Variable on October 12, 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.*