# Swiftfin vs Bitbender

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Swiftfin | Bitbender |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (267 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftfin/id1604098728/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **267** | — |
| Positive reviews | 53.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 186 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Anthony Lavado](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480192617) | [Bit Bender Productions Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1624388728) |

## 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


### Bitbender

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitbender/id6514272830)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Swiftfin free?

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

### Is Bitbender free?

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

### Do Swiftfin or Bitbender have ads?

Neither Swiftfin nor Bitbender shows ads.

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

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