# IMAX vs PXPlay

The clearest difference is rating: PXPlay at 4.2 against IMAX's 2.2. PXPlay also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (69% vs 35%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IMAX sells 19 one-off in-app purchases and PXPlay sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PXPlay holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PXPlay has 502 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of IMAX's written reviews are positive against 69% of PXPlay's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | IMAX | PXPlay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imax/id1537376352/reviews) | **[4.2 (502 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pxplay-remote-play/id1638586503/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 34 | **502** |
| Positive reviews | 34.6% of reviews | **68.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 124 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Vision Pro | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IMAX Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/671934663) | [Florian Grill](https://appshunter.io/developer/1638586505) |

## What reviewers say

### IMAX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imax/id1537376352)

Discover upcoming films, documentaries, and live events. Save your favorite theaters to stay updated on showtimes and release dates. Access exclusive content like cast messages and digital art.

**Highlights:** Save favorite theaters, View showtimes and release dates, Browse film and event listings, Access exclusive cast messages, Download exclusive IMAX Art, Explore capsule collections

**In-app purchases (19)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hail Columbia | $1.99 | one-time |
| Fires of Kuwait | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pandas | $2.99 | one-time |
| Superpower Dogs | $3.99 | one-time |
| A Beautiful Planet | $4.99 | one-time |
| Journey to the South Pacific | $4.99 | one-time |
| Superpower Dogs  3D | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pandas  3D | $4.99 | one-time |
| Deep Sky  3D | $4.99 | one-time |
| Planet Earth 3: Ep7: Human | $4.99 | one-time |
| Planet Earth 3: Ep3: Deserts | $4.99 | one-time |
| Planet Earth 3: Ep4: Freshwate | $4.99 | one-time |
| Planet Earth 3: Ep5: Forrests | $4.99 | one-time |
| Planet Earth 3: Ep6: Extremes | $4.99 | one-time |
| Planet Earth 3: Ep1: Coasts | $4.99 | one-time |
| Planet Earth 3: Ep2: Ocean | $4.99 | one-time |
| A Beautiful Planet  3D | $5.99 | one-time |
| Journey to the South Pacific | $5.99 | one-time |
| Deep Sky | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎬 Immersive IMAX theater experience on Vision Pro
- 🎨 Stunning visual quality and display
- 🎭 Authentic theater atmosphere with seat selection
- 📱 Good app performance and loading speed
- 🎥 3D content available

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and freezes on splash screen
- ❌ Content loading errors frequently
- 📍 Location database outdated/incomplete
- 🌍 Poor international support (especially Australia)
- 💰 Rental-only model with limited purchasing options

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes on splash screen or black screen
- Content loading error: 'There was an error loading the content'
- Unable to retrieve content in certain regions
- Login failures and authentication issues
- App crashes after initial use

**Requested features**

- Add option to purchase movies instead of renting
- Expand content library with major films (Dune, Oppenheimer, Interstellar, TRON, Lord of the Rings)
- Subscription model for unlimited access
- Update location database with new theaters
- Add support for multiple favorite theaters


### PXPlay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pxplay-remote-play/id1638586503)

Stream your console games to your mobile devices with high-quality visuals and low latency. Enjoy full controller support and advanced features like 4K upscaling, even over mobile data. Play your favorite titles anywhere, anytime.

**Highlights:** Low-latency streaming, 4K / 2K upscaling, Spatial Audio, Custom bitrate and frame pacing, Button mapping and gesture emulation, Multiple console registration, Third-party controller support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock new features | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth streaming performance
- 👍 Customizable controls and settings
- 🔒 Secure remote access
- 🎮 Excellent alternative to official remote play app
- 💡 Innovative features not found in official app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues and disconnects
- 🔋 Potential performance issues on mobile data
- ⚠️ Requires manual IP address configuration
- 💰 Premium features locked behind paywall

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to sign in with certain account types
- Freezing and crashing on some devices
- Inconsistent performance across platforms

**Requested features**

- Native Vision Pro app
- Picture-in-Picture mode
- Improved support for older PlayStation models
- Expanded controller compatibility


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IMAX free?

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

### Is PXPlay free?

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

### Which has better reviews, IMAX or PXPlay?

PXPlay is rated higher. IMAX averages 2.2 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while PXPlay averages 4.2 from 502 ratings.

### Do IMAX or PXPlay have ads?

IMAX shows ads; PXPlay does not.

### Which is updated more often, IMAX or PXPlay?

IMAX ships an update monthly, and PXPlay monthly. Most recently, IMAX was updated on October 27, 2026 and PXPlay 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.*