Comparison

Swiftfin vs Pipplee

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Native iOS/iPadOS video player
  • Connects to Jellyfin media servers
  • Stream video collection
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Watch Live TV (with hardware)
Features
Read full description

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!

About

Pipplee

Control your WLED LED matrix with a variety of dynamic content. Transform music into light shows, create pixel art, display scrolling text, and even play arcade games directly on your LED panel without any coding.

Highlights
  • Music visualizer with 13 effects
  • Pixel art editor and AI generation
  • Scrolling text and live information display
  • Playable arcade games on LED matrix
  • Customizable animations and GIFs
  • Automated content cycling and scheduling
Features
Read full description

Pipplee is the easiest way to control a WLED 2D LED matrix from your iPhone. Play animations, turn music into a light show, draw pixel art, scroll text, run arcade games and show live weather on your LED panel - no coding, no config files. WORKS WITH ANY WLED MATRIX 16x16, 32x32, 8x32, 24x16 or a custom layout - if WLED supports your 2D matrix, Pipplee fits content to it automatically. You need an ESP32 running WLED (ESP8266 and ESP32-C3 are not supported). GIF and image playback needs WLED 16.0.0 or newer. MUSIC VISUALIZER • Your matrix dances to whatever is playing, using your iPhone's microphone • 13 visualizers: Spectrum Bars, Mirror, Waveform, Bass Fire, Waterfall, Starburst, Radial and more • Colour gradients or a single colour, plus a sensitivity control • Smart beat detection that ignores steady background noise like fans • Music playing on your iPhone keeps playing while it listens • Keep it running in the background, or keep your screen on while it plays • Sound is analysed on your iPhone - nothing is recorded or sent anywhere ANIMATIONS & PIXEL ART • 1000+ ready-made animations and pixel art, searchable by category • Live pixel editor with instant preview on your LEDs • Upload your own GIFs and images • AI pixel art: describe it and Pipplee generates it for your matrix • 200+ built-in WLED effects with animated previews TEXT, CLOCK & LIVE INFO • Scrolling text with gradients, backgrounds and effects • Digital clock faces with animated backgrounds • Live local weather that updates on its own • Live sports scores, stock prices and a game-night scoreboard PLAY ARCADE GAMES ON YOUR LED MATRIX Snake, Blocks, Pong, Breakout, Flappy Bird, Space Invaders and Racing - play on your iPhone and watch it run on your LED matrix. CAMERA EFFECTS • Body Glow: your silhouette lights up on the matrix using your iPhone camera AUTOMATE EVERYTHING • Favorites and playlists for hands-free animation cycling • Schedule presets by time of day • Smart-home friendly: send messages to your matrix from your own scripts with the Pipplee API • Built-in WLED settings, so you never leave the app WHO IS PIPPLEE FOR? WLED users with an LED matrix, makers and DIY electronics fans, pixel artists, gamers, music lovers, and anyone who wants a glowing display for a desk, bedroom, game room or shop window. GET STARTED IN MINUTES 1. Flash WLED on an ESP32 and set up your LED matrix in 2D mode. 2. Connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network. 3. Open Pipplee, scan for devices and pick your matrix - you're playing in seconds. SIMPLE PRICING Free to try with limited plays. Unlock every feature with a yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime license. Each license covers one physical WLED device (one controller), and everyone in your home can use it. If you replace your controller, the new one needs its own license. The yearly subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment is charged to your Apple ID. Manage or cancel it in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Questions? pippleeapp@gmail.com | pipplee.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://pipplee.com/privacy/

Screenshots

Swiftfin4 screens
Pipplee4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Swiftfin at none against Pipplee's 8. Swiftfin also leads on ratings volume (277 vs 6) and review sentiment (53% vs 40%). Pipplee's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months). On price, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Pipplee sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Swiftfin asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pipplee holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Swiftfin has 277 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 53% of Swiftfin's written reviews are positive against 40% of Pipplee's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Swiftfin ships an update every 3 months, Pipplee every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Swiftfin versus Pipplee: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwiftfinPipplee
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (277 ratings)4.2 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.0% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings277 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TViPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS18.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size186 MB20 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperAnthony LavadoBipul Jain

Customer experience

Swiftfin

All ratings267 ratings
Positive64.8%
Neutral10.9%
Negative24.3%
Written reviews366 reviews
Positive53.0%
Neutral14.8%
Negative32.2%

Pipplee

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

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

Pipplee

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Swiftfin

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Pipplee

Subscriptions1
  • Yearly Device License$4.991 Year
One-time6
  • Yearly License per WLED device2 variants$2.99
  • Lifetime Access$3.99
  • Yearly License per WLED device$4.99
Show 3 more
  • Lifetime Access for Device$9.99
  • Lifetime Access for Device$14.99
  • Lifetime Access for Device$19.99

Questions

Is Swiftfin free?
Swiftfin is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pipplee free?
Pipplee is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Swiftfin or Pipplee?
Pipplee is rated higher. Swiftfin averages 3.8 out of 5 from 277 ratings, while Pipplee averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.
Do Swiftfin or Pipplee have ads?
Neither Swiftfin nor Pipplee shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Swiftfin or Pipplee?
Swiftfin ships an update every 3 months, and Pipplee every 2 days. Most recently, Swiftfin was updated on November 3, 2026 and Pipplee on November 4, 2026.

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