# JPLAY vs LyrPlay

The clearest difference is monetization model: LyrPlay at free against JPLAY's subscription. LyrPlay also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.3). JPLAY's advantage is review sentiment (59% vs 50%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. JPLAY sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year and LyrPlay sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

LyrPlay holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 52 and 19 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of JPLAY's written reviews are positive against 50% of LyrPlay's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

JPLAY ships an update every 3 weeks, LyrPlay monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | JPLAY | LyrPlay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457/reviews) | **[4.5 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lyrplay/id6746776736/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **52** | 19 |
| Positive reviews | **58.9% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 50 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marcin Ostapowicz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1608773459) | [Eric Miller](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818489254) |

## 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


### LyrPlay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lyrplay/id6746776736)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a premium Squeezebox player. Stream your personal music collection with native FLAC support, seamless web interface integration, and high-quality audio streaming. Enjoy continuous playback with lock screen and Control Center controls.

**Highlights:** Native FLAC and Opus support, Material Web Interface integration, CarPlay support, Background audio playback, Lock screen and Control Center controls, Automatic server discovery

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Icon Pack | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is JPLAY free?

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

### Is LyrPlay free?

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

### Which has better reviews, JPLAY or LyrPlay?

LyrPlay is rated higher. JPLAY averages 4.3 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while LyrPlay averages 4.5 from 19 ratings.

### Do JPLAY or LyrPlay have ads?

Neither JPLAY nor LyrPlay shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, JPLAY or LyrPlay?

JPLAY ships an update every 3 weeks, and LyrPlay monthly. Most recently, JPLAY was updated on September 25, 2026 and LyrPlay on September 16, 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.*