# Swiftfin vs Canopy for Plex

The clearest difference is price: Swiftfin at Free against Canopy for Plex's $4.99. Swiftfin also leads on ratings volume (267 vs 1). Canopy for Plex's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Swiftfin is free to download; Canopy for Plex costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Canopy for Plex holds the better App Store score, 5.0 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, Canopy for Plex weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Swiftfin | Canopy for Plex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [3.8 (267 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftfin/id1604098728/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canopy-for-plex/id6759919978/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 | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 186 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anthony Lavado](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480192617) | [Ashton Lance](https://appshunter.io/developer/1881652297) |

## 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


### Canopy for Plex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canopy-for-plex/id6759919978)

This app provides a safe and distraction-free interface for families to enjoy their existing movie and TV show library. It offers age-appropriate browsing, parental controls, and screen time management, all while connecting to your Plex Media Server.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free interface, Age-appropriate browsing, PIN-protected parental controls, Content rating filtering, Offline viewing, Screen time controls

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Swiftfin free?

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

### Is Canopy for Plex free?

Canopy for Plex costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Swiftfin or Canopy for Plex?

Canopy for Plex is rated higher. Swiftfin averages 3.8 out of 5 from 267 ratings, while Canopy for Plex averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Swiftfin or Canopy for Plex have ads?

Neither Swiftfin nor Canopy for Plex shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Swiftfin or Canopy for Plex?

Swiftfin ships an update every 3 months, and Canopy for Plex weekly. Most recently, Swiftfin was updated on October 17, 2026 and Canopy for Plex on October 9, 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.*
