# Swiftfin vs Pixelcade

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pixelcade at every 8 days against Swiftfin's every 3 months. Pixelcade also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.8) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.6). Swiftfin's advantage is ratings volume (267 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Pixelcade holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Swiftfin has 267 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Swiftfin ships an update every 3 months, Pixelcade every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Swiftfin | Pixelcade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (267 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftfin/id1604098728/reviews) | **[4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelcade/id6505077613/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **267** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 53.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 186 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **16.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anthony Lavado](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480192617) | [OPEN GADGETS LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1038238337) |

## What reviewers say

### Swiftfin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftfin/id1604098728)

Stream your video collection from a Jellyfin media server to your iOS device. Enjoy an easy-to-use interface for your media library and watch live TV if you have the necessary hardware.

**Highlights:** Native iOS/iPadOS video player, Connects to Jellyfin media servers, Stream video collection, Easy-to-use interface, Watch Live TV (with hardware)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Smooth and responsive UI
- 🚀 Fast and efficient media playback
- 🔒 Secure user profiles and pin protection
- 💡 Seamless switching between multiple user accounts
- 👍 Clean and modern app design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔋 Inconsistent battery performance
- 🔒 Difficulty changing server IP/domain
- 🐛 Issues with subtitle and audio track selection
- 🐛 Unreliable live TV and DVR functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to connect to Jellyfin server after recent updates
- Sorting and filtering not working as expected
- Playback issues with certain video codecs and formats
- Home bar not disappearing during video playback
- Sync issues between iOS and tvOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add offline media download capability
- Implement Picture-in-Picture mode
- Introduce a shuffle option for episodes
- Integrate e-book and audiobook support
- Allow customization of media library views


### Pixelcade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelcade/id6505077613)

This companion app allows users to manage their Pixelcade LED and LCD marquees. Browse, update, and change settings for your marquee artwork and access widgets. Connect wirelessly over Wi-Fi for a seamless experience.

**Highlights:** Browse Pixelcade artwork, Update marquee artwork, Change marquee settings, Access Pixelcade widgets (LED only), Wi-Fi connectivity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Swiftfin free?

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

### Is Pixelcade free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Swiftfin or Pixelcade?

Pixelcade is rated higher. Swiftfin averages 3.8 out of 5 from 267 ratings, while Pixelcade averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Swiftfin or Pixelcade have ads?

Neither Swiftfin nor Pixelcade shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Swiftfin or Pixelcade?

Swiftfin ships an update every 3 months, and Pixelcade every 8 days. Most recently, Swiftfin was updated on October 14, 2026 and Pixelcade on September 28, 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.*