# HQPDcontrol v4 vs JPLAY

The clearest difference is monetization model: HQPDcontrol v4 at free with in-app purchases against JPLAY's subscription. HQPDcontrol v4 also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 59%). JPLAY's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (52 vs 10). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HQPDcontrol v4 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and JPLAY sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

JPLAY holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: JPLAY has 52 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of HQPDcontrol v4's written reviews are positive against 59% of JPLAY's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

HQPDcontrol v4 ships an update every 2 weeks, JPLAY every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HQPDcontrol v4 | JPLAY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hqpdcontrol-v4/id1518963245/reviews) | **[4.3 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **52** |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 58.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 53 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ales Prochazka](https://appshunter.io/developer/1518963457) | [Marcin Ostapowicz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1608773459) |

## What reviewers say

### HQPDcontrol v4

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hqpdcontrol-v4/id1518963245)

Control your high-quality audio playback and upsampling from your mobile device. Browse your music library, manage playback queues, and adjust audio processing settings remotely. Seamlessly connect to your HQPlayer setup for an intuitive audiophile experience.

**Highlights:** Library browsing by artist, album, genre, and directory, Full playback transport controls, Real-time audio format and processing display, Queue management with drag-and-drop reordering, Remote adjustment of HQPlayer audio settings, HRA catalog browsing and streaming, Automatic HQPlayer instance discovery

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HQPDcontrol v4 (M) | $1.99 | per month |
| HQPDcontrol v4 (A) | $12.99 | per year |


### JPLAY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457)

This app is a high-fidelity music player designed for audiophiles. It seamlessly integrates streaming services like Qobuz and Tidal with local music files, offering a unified interface for all your audio content. Experience superior sound quality and discover new music through its intuitive design and advanced features.

**Highlights:** Plays Qobuz, Tidal, and local music files, Works with most streamers and network DACs, HQPlayer Control API integration, Dramatically better sound quality, Radio feature for music discovery, Extended playlist management, Artist bios and album reviews

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| JPLAY Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $149.00 | one-time |
| JPLAY Lifetime | $199.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Superior sound quality compared to competitors
- 👍 Intuitive and clean user interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive app performance
- 🔌 Seamless UPnP/DLNA integration
- 📱 Works without requiring a server

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription pricing ($50/year, $199 lifetime)
- ❌ No monthly subscription option available
- 🐛 Frequent connectivity and playback issues
- 📱 iOS-only application
- 🔄 No cross-device synchronization

**Reported bugs**

- Tracks fail to render or play from Tidal
- App crashes on startup with older iOS versions
- Playback stuttering and lag issues
- Renderer in transition errors
- Device discovery failures

**Requested features**

- Monthly subscription option
- Cross-device synchronization for playlists and favorites
- EQ and tone adjustment controls
- DSD file playback support
- Multi-room audio capability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HQPDcontrol v4 free?

HQPDcontrol v4 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is JPLAY free?

JPLAY is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HQPDcontrol v4 or JPLAY?

JPLAY is rated higher. HQPDcontrol v4 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while JPLAY averages 4.3 from 52 ratings.

### Do HQPDcontrol v4 or JPLAY have ads?

Neither HQPDcontrol v4 nor JPLAY shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HQPDcontrol v4 or JPLAY?

HQPDcontrol v4 ships an update every 2 weeks, and JPLAY every 3 weeks. Most recently, HQPDcontrol v4 was updated on September 22, 2026 and JPLAY on September 21, 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.*