# Sonos S1 Controller vs BluOS Controller

The clearest difference is monetization model: BluOS Controller at free against Sonos S1 Controller's free with in-app purchases. BluOS Controller also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). Sonos S1 Controller's advantage is ratings volume (821K vs 5.3K) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sonos S1 Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sonos S1 Controller has 821K ratings behind it against 5.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Sonos S1 Controller's written reviews are positive against 39% of BluOS Controller's.

Sonos S1 Controller ships an update every 2 months, BluOS Controller monthly. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sonos S1 Controller | BluOS Controller |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (821K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonos-s1-controller/id293523031/reviews)** | [4.4 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluos-controller/id566668472/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **821K** | 5.3K |
| Positive reviews | **52.1% of reviews** | 38.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 103 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sonos, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/293523034) | [Bluesound](https://appshunter.io/developer/566668475) |

## What reviewers say

### Sonos S1 Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonos-s1-controller/id293523031)

Manage your older Sonos systems with ease. This app allows you to control volume, group rooms, set alarms, and stream from your favorite services. Enjoy thousands of free stations with Sonos Radio.

**Highlights:** Control older Sonos products, Adjust volume, Group rooms, Save favorites, Set alarms, Stream from services, Listen to Sonos Radio

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great sound quality
- 🔍 Versatile and easy to use
- 💡 Whole-home audio experience
- 🎨 Sleek and modern design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
- 🔀 Confusing and unintuitive app updates
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and control
- ⚠️ Planned obsolescence of older products

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to recognize speakers
- Music playback randomly cuts out
- Inability to control volume from lock screen

**Requested features**

- Restore previous app interface
- Improve search and playlist management
- Add Bluetooth connectivity
- Better integration with personal music libraries


### BluOS Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluos-controller/id566668472)

Control your wireless hi-res music systems from multiple brands. Stream music from various sources, synchronize playback across rooms, and manage your entire audio experience wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet.

**Highlights:** Universal remote for BluOS-enabled systems, Wireless multi-room music streaming, Access streaming services, libraries, and radio, Synchronized playback across multiple rooms, Control from smartphone, tablet, or laptop, High-resolution audio with no lag

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great hardware and sound quality
- 💡 Versatile streaming options
- 🔒 Stable and reliable connection
- 👍 Intuitive app interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
- 🐛 Buggy app updates
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance
- 👎 Unintuitive playlist management
- 👎 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to detect/connect to players
- Playlists not saving/loading properly
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Streaming service integration issues

**Requested features**

- Improved Spotify/Apple Music integration
- Better local music library support
- Chromecast/AirPlay integration
- Customizable app interface


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sonos S1 Controller free?

Sonos S1 Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is BluOS Controller free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sonos S1 Controller or BluOS Controller?

Sonos S1 Controller is rated higher. Sonos S1 Controller averages 4.7 out of 5 from 821K ratings, while BluOS Controller averages 4.4 from 5.3K ratings.

### Do Sonos S1 Controller or BluOS Controller have ads?

Neither Sonos S1 Controller nor BluOS Controller shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sonos S1 Controller or BluOS Controller?

Sonos S1 Controller ships an update every 2 months, and BluOS Controller monthly. Most recently, Sonos S1 Controller was updated on October 14, 2026 and BluOS Controller on October 14, 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.*