# Upstream™ Essentials vs Frame by Frame Player

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Upstream™ Essentials at none against Frame by Frame Player's 3. Upstream™ Essentials also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 15 months) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Frame by Frame Player sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Upstream™ Essentials asks for nothing beyond the download.

Upstream™ Essentials ships an update every 5 months, Frame by Frame Player every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on May 19, 2026 and June 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Upstream™ Essentials | Frame by Frame Player |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frame-by-frame-player/id6737622267/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | — | Subscription |
| Size | 68 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IOGEAR, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/616415832) | [Tuan Anh Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1702873367) |

## What reviewers say

### Upstream™ Essentials

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstream-essentials/id1513876380)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Frame by Frame Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frame-by-frame-player/id6737622267)

This app offers precise video playback, allowing users to step through videos frame by frame with audio. It includes annotation tools and the ability to export individual frames or annotated frames. Ideal for detailed video analysis and animation workflows.

**Highlights:** Frame-by-frame playback with audio, Adjustable playback range, Annotation tools (brush, text), Single frame export, Annotated frame export, MP4, MOV, AVI, GIF support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium - 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium - 6 Months | $3.99 | per 6 months |
| Premium - 1 Year | $7.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Upstream™ Essentials free?

Upstream™ Essentials is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Frame by Frame Player free?

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

### Do Upstream™ Essentials or Frame by Frame Player have ads?

Neither Upstream™ Essentials nor Frame by Frame Player shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Upstream™ Essentials or Frame by Frame Player?

Upstream™ Essentials ships an update every 5 months, and Frame by Frame Player every 15 months. Most recently, Upstream™ Essentials was updated on May 19, 2026 and Frame by Frame Player on June 8, 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.*