Comparison

Plex Dash vs Swol

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

Head to head
About

Plex Dash

Monitor your Plex Media Server in real-time. Track streams, DVR recordings, and server resources with detailed graphs. Manage media artwork and refresh libraries directly from your device.

Highlights
  • Real-time playback status
  • DVR recording monitoring
  • Bandwidth and resource graphs
  • Top media and user history
  • Artwork management
  • Library refresh
  • Server log inspection
Features
Read full description

** You'll need a Plex Media Server and an active Plex Pass to use this app ** ** From the same people who brought you the Plex app ** ** PS - If you’re new to Plex, download the Plex app first ** Pop quiz, hotshot: how many streams is your Plex Media Server dishing out RIGHT NOW? What’s your most-watched movie in the past month? Is that CPU you picked up from a sketchy eBay vendor up to the task? More importantly, are you sure that’s the best poster for Speed (1994)? Plex Dash is a tool created by obsessive Plex Media Server admins for obsessive Plex Media Server admins. Get real-time status of playbacks, DVR recordings, Sync conversions, and more. Monitor bandwidth and server resources with sexy graphs. Dig deeper and learn about top items or individual user history. Fix up artwork. Refresh libraries. Inspect nerdy media details. If it all goes south, check out the raw server logs. MASTER YOUR MEDIAVERSE Who’s streaming what right now? Plex Dash answers in spades. Gorgeous Now Playing tiles keep you apprised of all the latest shenanigans, across all of your servers. Put that giant iPad to great use by duct-taping it to the wall (landscape, duh); lean back, pet your hairless cat, and keep an eye on your empire. DIVE UNDER THE HOOD Server up to something? DVR recording? Media Optimizer doing its… optimizing? You get a chonky lightning bolt to make sure this doesn’t go unnoticed. ONE-HANDED CURATION Browse and change artwork from the palm of your hand while checking out at your local co-op. It’s like that other swipey app, but with less risk of disease.

About

Swol

This utility app allows you to remotely power on your devices using the Wake-On-LAN protocol. It features a minimalist design and Siri integration for simplified control over your network-connected computers and devices.

Highlights
  • Wake-On-LAN protocol support
  • Minimalist and easy-to-use design
  • Siri integration for voice control
  • Remote device power-on
  • LAN packet sending
Read full description

Using WOL(Wake-On-Lan) protocol, which sends a packet to your devices through LAN, Swol comes to simplify its use, relying on an easy to use and minimalist design and Siri Integration.

Screenshots

Plex Dash4 screens
Swol4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Plex Dash at none against Swol's 1. Plex Dash also leads on ratings volume (2.2K vs 8) and review sentiment (81% vs 71%). Swol's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model 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. Swol sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Plex Dash asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Swol holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Plex Dash has 2.2K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of Plex Dash's written reviews are positive against 71% of Swol's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Plex Dash versus Swol: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlex DashSwol
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (2.2K ratings)5.0 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.3% of reviews — better70.8% of reviews
Number of ratings2.2K — better8
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better13.2
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPlex Inc.Pedro Giuliano Farina

Customer experience

Plex Dash

All ratings2,151 ratings
Positive91.9%
Neutral2.5%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews592 reviews
Positive81.3%
Neutral5.7%
Negative13.0%

Swol

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive70.8%
Neutral8.3%
Negative20.8%

Bugs and requests

Plex Dash

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Difficulty connecting to server or finding servers
  • Crashes when viewing server graphs
  • Inaccurate or incomplete playback history

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add ability to manage users and permissions
  • Integrate more server administration functions
  • Improve library browsing and media details
  • Provide more detailed playback statistics
  • Add support for GPU monitoring
Show 1 more
  • Allow remote server control and updates

Swol

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Plex Dash

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Swol

One-time1
  • Cup of Coffee$0.99

Questions

Is Plex Dash free?
Plex Dash is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Swol free?
Swol is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Plex Dash or Swol?
Swol is rated higher. Plex Dash averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Swol averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.
Do Plex Dash or Swol have ads?
Neither Plex Dash nor Swol shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Plex Dash or Swol?
Plex Dash ships an update monthly, and Swol monthly. Most recently, Plex Dash was updated on October 18, 2026 and Swol on October 14, 2026.

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