# Floatplane vs Mad Scientist Controls

The clearest difference is rating: Mad Scientist Controls at 5.0 against Floatplane's 4.1. Mad Scientist Controls also leads on monetization model (free vs freemium) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). Floatplane's advantage is ratings volume (394 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Mad Scientist Controls holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Floatplane has 394 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Floatplane ships an update every 3 weeks, Mad Scientist Controls every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Floatplane | Mad Scientist Controls |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (394 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/floatplane/id1472071280/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mad-scientist-controls/id6739670168/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **394** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 50.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 45 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Floatplane Media Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1472071279) | [Gregory Shayko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1786489172) |

## What reviewers say

### Floatplane

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/floatplane/id1472071280)

This platform allows users to support content creators directly, offering an ad-free and high-quality video viewing experience. The mobile app extends this premium content access to users on the go.

**Highlights:** Ad-free viewing, High-quality video, Support content creators, Personal premium experience, Mobile access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Clean and simple UI
- 🚀 Stable video playback
- 💡 Exclusive content access
- 🔒 Secure platform for creators

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- 🔍 Lack of search/discovery features
- 📱 Limited iPad support
- 🔇 No background audio playback
- 🖥️ No Apple TV/Chromecast support

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent video loading indicators
- Unreliable login/sign-up process
- Orientation issues on iPad
- Casting/mirroring problems

**Requested features**

- Picture-in-Picture mode
- Resume playback across devices
- Notification settings
- Offline video downloads
- Improved video scrubbing


### Mad Scientist Controls

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mad-scientist-controls/id6739670168)

Control your JAWS Rover robot via Bluetooth for exciting adventures. Explore and maneuver your robot with an easy-to-use interface. Requires the JAWS Rover device.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth connectivity, Robot control, Exploration, Maneuvering, Easy-to-use interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Floatplane free?

Floatplane is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mad Scientist Controls free?

Mad Scientist Controls is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Floatplane or Mad Scientist Controls?

Mad Scientist Controls is rated higher. Floatplane averages 4.1 out of 5 from 394 ratings, while Mad Scientist Controls averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Floatplane or Mad Scientist Controls have ads?

Neither Floatplane nor Mad Scientist Controls shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Floatplane or Mad Scientist Controls?

Floatplane ships an update every 3 weeks, and Mad Scientist Controls every 5 days. Most recently, Floatplane was updated on October 17, 2026 and Mad Scientist Controls on October 7, 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.*