# JPLAY vs Hegel Control

The clearest difference is rating: JPLAY at 4.3 against Hegel Control's 2.3. JPLAY also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (52 vs 3). Hegel Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. JPLAY sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. Hegel Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

JPLAY holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: JPLAY has 52 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of JPLAY's written reviews are positive against 50% of Hegel Control's.

JPLAY ships an update every 3 weeks, Hegel Control every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | JPLAY | Hegel Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457/reviews)** | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hegel-control/id6467190263/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **52** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **58.9% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 50 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marcin Ostapowicz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1608773459) | [Hegel Music System AS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708367074) |

## What reviewers say

### JPLAY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457)

This app is a high-fidelity music player designed for audiophiles. It seamlessly integrates streaming services like Qobuz and Tidal with local music files, offering a unified interface for all your audio content. Experience superior sound quality and discover new music through its intuitive design and advanced features.

**Highlights:** Plays Qobuz, Tidal, and local music files, Works with most streamers and network DACs, HQPlayer Control API integration, Dramatically better sound quality, Radio feature for music discovery, Extended playlist management, Artist bios and album reviews

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| JPLAY Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $149.00 | one-time |
| JPLAY Lifetime | $199.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Superior sound quality compared to competitors
- 👍 Intuitive and clean user interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive app performance
- 🔌 Seamless UPnP/DLNA integration
- 📱 Works without requiring a server

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription pricing ($50/year, $199 lifetime)
- ❌ No monthly subscription option available
- 🐛 Frequent connectivity and playback issues
- 📱 iOS-only application
- 🔄 No cross-device synchronization

**Reported bugs**

- Tracks fail to render or play from Tidal
- App crashes on startup with older iOS versions
- Playback stuttering and lag issues
- Renderer in transition errors
- Device discovery failures

**Requested features**

- Monthly subscription option
- Cross-device synchronization for playlists and favorites
- EQ and tone adjustment controls
- DSD file playback support
- Multi-room audio capability


### Hegel Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hegel-control/id6467190263)

This application allows users to control Hegel streaming amplifiers, offering features like playback control, internet radio, and podcast access. It also facilitates initial device setup, input selection, and configuration for supported models.

**Highlights:** Playback control, Internet radio and podcasts, Initial setup, Input selection, Device configuration

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is JPLAY free?

JPLAY is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hegel Control free?

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

### Which has better reviews, JPLAY or Hegel Control?

JPLAY is rated higher. JPLAY averages 4.3 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Hegel Control averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do JPLAY or Hegel Control have ads?

Neither JPLAY nor Hegel Control shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, JPLAY or Hegel Control?

JPLAY ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hegel Control every 12 months. Most recently, JPLAY was updated on October 16, 2026 and Hegel Control on October 5, 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.*