Swiftfin vs Bitbender
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Swiftfin
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.
- Native iOS/iPadOS video player
- Connects to Jellyfin media servers
- Stream video collection
- Easy-to-use interface
- Watch Live TV (with hardware)
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Swiftfin is a fast, native video player that works with Jellyfin, the open source free software media server. To use the app, you must have a Jellyfin server set up and running. Find out more at https://jellyfin.org With a Jellyfin server, you can: - Watch Live TV and recorded shows from your Jellyfin server (additional hardware/services required) - Stream your video to your iOS/iPadOS device - View your collection in an easy to use interface This is an official Jellyfin companion app. Thank you for using Jellyfin!
Bitbender
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Celebrity Shoutout Section allows you to give your loved ones a memorable wedding, birthday, promotion, or anniversary by having their favorite celebrity wish them well on their occasion. You will be able to request a shoutout for yourself, or your loved ones and direct it to any of the celebrities on our platform. Song Promotion Section allows you access to DJs, OAPs, and Radio station Librarians on standby to promote your songs on terrestrial platforms like radio stations, clubs, or events.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Bitbender at every 8 days against Swiftfin's every 3 months. Bitbender also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Swiftfin ships an update every 3 months, Bitbender every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Swiftfin | Bitbender |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (267 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 53.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 267 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 186 MB | 74 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Anthony Lavado | Bit Bender Productions Ltd |
Bugs and requests
Swiftfin
Reported bugs
5 issues- 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
5 requests- 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
Bitbender
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Swiftfin
No in-app purchases
Bitbender
No in-app purchases
