Comparison

Sequel vs Cinematic Player

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

Head to head
About

Sequel

This app helps you manage and track all your media, from TV shows and games to books. It reminds you of new releases, keeps track of your progress, and offers details like synopses and trailers to help you pick your next watch or read. Organize your entertainment with a sleek, intuitive interface.

Highlights
  • Track TV shows, games, and books
  • Reminders for new releases
  • Progress tracking
  • Wishlist management
  • Release countdown widgets
  • Discovery features
Features
Read full description

Whether it’s the TV show your friend raved about, a new book from your favorite author, or an upcoming video game, Sequel is your go-to media wishlist. “Sequel. It’s pretty cool.” – Quinn Nelson, Snazzy Labs “The app […] is one of the very best media trackers in a very crowded field.” – MacStories “Sequel is great for managing media you want to interact with.” – Christopher Lawley It reminds you of new releases, keeps track of your progress, and more. Say goodbye to messy notes and hello to a sleek, intuitive app that puts all your media in one place. ▶ EASY TRACKING Sequel does the heavy-lifting so you can enjoy your media instead of managing it. - Share to Sequel via Magic Lookup and AI to instantly save media from the web - Easily view your wishlist and track what you complete - Mark items as Playing or Reading for quick access - Mark off episodes as you watch them - Sync with iCloud and Trakt ▶ DON’T MISS A THING Sequel is designed to help you keep track of those titles you’re eagerly waiting for. - Countdown widgets let you keep items on your Home Screen or Lock Screen - Get release reminder notifications - See your latest releases and upcoming titles - Stay on top of your series with the Watch Next queue ▶ PICK WHAT TO ENJOY NEXT If you’re not sure what to pick from your wishlist, Sequel gives you the right details to help you choose. - Synopsis and trailers - Ratings count and average - Where to watch (Movies/Series) – Access streaming apps with just a tap - Time to beat (Games) – Know what you’re getting yourself into ▶ DISCOVER YOUR NEXT OBSESSION Find new favorites to add to your list with Sequel’s discovery features. - Browse popular and upcoming titles - Explore cast and crew members’ filmographies - See other books by an author you like ▶ WHAT’S FREE - Save and track unlimited items - Smart search across all media types - Basic details including synopsis, ratings, and trailers - Filmographies - Quick access widget - Create up to 5 collections - Rate items you complete - Discover upcoming and popular items - iCloud sync ▶ WHAT’S PLUS Sequel+ is an optional subscription that unlocks the app’s more advanced features. - Sync your movies and series with your Trakt account - See where to watch movies and series - Get release reminders for items on your wishlist - Use Magic Lookup and AI to instantly save media from the web into Sequel - Create unlimited collections to organize your media - Open media in your favorite sources like IMDb, Audible, and more - Capture thoughts, quotes, and more with Markdown formatting - See how long video games take to finish - Advanced widgets including countdown and Watch Next - Alternative app icons Sequel is lovingly crafted by Romain Lefebvre in London, UK. Terms of Use: https://getsequel.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://getsequel.app/privacy

About

Cinematic Player

Features
Read full description

Cinematic Player is the ultimate video player for iPhone and iPad — built for people who demand more from their media experience. Powered by the industry-leading MPV engine, Cinematic Player handles virtually every video and audio format without conversion, stuttering, or compromise. Whether it's MKV, AVI, MP4, HEVC, AV1, or Dolby Vision — just tap and play. POWERFUL PLAYBACK · Plays all major formats: MKV, MP4, AVI, MOV, HEVC, AV1, VP9 & more · Hardware-accelerated decoding for smooth 4K & HDR playback · Advanced subtitle rendering with full ASS/SSA support · Automatic previous/next episode button if episodes are imported · Url streaming with download option YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR WAY · Beautiful poster and landscape browsing layouts · TMDB-powered metadata, artwork & genre browsing · Smart media library with fast search and filtering · Progress tracking so you never lose your place ALWAYS IN REACH · Live Activities & Dynamic Island — see what's playing without unlocking · Home Screen & Lock Screen widgets for instant playback control · Background playback so your show keeps going PROFESSIONAL TOOLS · Built-in format converter & transcoder · Playback manager with granular controls · Optimised for both iPhone and iPad, including Split View multitasking Cinematic Player is designed for movie lovers, media enthusiasts, and anyone who wants a fast, beautiful, and capable video experience on iOS. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Sequel4 screens
Cinematic Player4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Cinematic Player at daily against Sequel's weekly. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Sequel sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Cinematic Player sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sequel ships an update weekly, Cinematic Player daily. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Sequel versus Cinematic Player: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSequelCinematic Player
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews92.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.3K — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.417.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size251 MB39 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperRomain LefebvreHarsh Paun

Bugs and requests

Sequel

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Certain shows/movies not appearing in search
  • Occasional crashes or freezes
  • Inconsistent behavior when marking items as watched

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add notes/comments for individual media items
  • Implement chapter/episode tracking for books
  • Introduce a habit tracker or progress visualization
  • Integrate with more media services like Apple Podcasts
  • Allow sorting/filtering of watch lists by various criteria
Show 1 more
  • Add the ability to share media lists with others

Cinematic Player

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Sequel

Subscriptions5
  • Sequel+$2.991 Month
  • Sequel+ (Family Plan)$4.991 Month
  • Sequel+7 Days trial$19.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Sequel+1 Year trial$19.991 Year
  • Sequel+ (Family Plan)7 Days trial$34.991 Year
One-time3
  • Add Family Plan to Lifetime$74.99
  • Sequel+ (Lifetime)$99.99
  • Sequel+ (Lifetime Family)$174.99
4 purchases

Cinematic Player

Subscriptions4
  • 7-Day Premium$0.997 Days
  • 7-Day Full-Family Premium$1.297 Days
  • 30-Day Premium$1.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • 30-Day Full-Family Premium$8.991 Month

Questions

Is Sequel free?
Sequel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cinematic Player free?
Cinematic Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sequel or Cinematic Player have ads?
Neither Sequel nor Cinematic Player shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sequel or Cinematic Player?
Sequel ships an update weekly, and Cinematic Player daily. Most recently, Sequel was updated on October 16, 2026 and Cinematic Player on October 6, 2026.

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