# HIFIMAN vs JPLAY

The clearest difference is review sentiment: JPLAY at 59% against HIFIMAN's 0%. JPLAY also leads on rating (4.2 vs 1.3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months). HIFIMAN's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. JPLAY sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. HIFIMAN asks for nothing beyond the download.

JPLAY holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: JPLAY has 54 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of HIFIMAN's written reviews are positive against 59% of JPLAY's.

HIFIMAN ships an update every 9 months, JPLAY every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HIFIMAN | JPLAY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hifiman-remote/id1525476601/reviews) | **[4.2 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **54** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **58.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 15 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HiFiman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1300418227) | [Marcin Ostapowicz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1608773459) |

## What reviewers say

### HIFIMAN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hifiman-remote/id1525476601)

Control your HIFIMAN portable music player from your mobile device. View device information, manage your music library, and control playback. Create custom playlists and easily search for your favorite tracks.

**Highlights:** Remote playback control, View device information, Manage music library, Create personalized playlists, Track metadata sorting, Simple track search

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 HIFIMAN free?

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

### Is JPLAY free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HIFIMAN or JPLAY?

JPLAY is rated higher. HIFIMAN averages 1.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while JPLAY averages 4.2 from 54 ratings.

### Do HIFIMAN or JPLAY have ads?

Neither HIFIMAN nor JPLAY shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HIFIMAN or JPLAY?

HIFIMAN ships an update every 9 months, and JPLAY every 3 weeks. Most recently, HIFIMAN was updated on October 6, 2026 and JPLAY on October 27, 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.*