# VLC Remote vs zFuse

The clearest difference is ads: VLC Remote at none against zFuse's shown. VLC Remote also leads on iOS requirement (12.1 vs 16.1). zFuse's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 66%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VLC Remote sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year and zFuse sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for VLC Remote against 4.7 for zFuse. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 599 and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of VLC Remote's written reviews are positive against 80% of zFuse's.

VLC Remote ships an update monthly, zFuse every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | VLC Remote | zFuse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (599 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vlc-remote/id299344206/reviews)** | [4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zfuse-media-player/id1054505347/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 599 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 66.3% of reviews | **80.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 40 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hobbyist Software Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/291218199) | [s-joys Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1252722512) |

## What reviewers say

### VLC Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vlc-remote/id299344206)

Control your VLC Media Player on Mac or PC from your iPhone or iPad. Manage playback, volume, subtitles, and more, all from your couch. Offers a free version with ads and limited features, with an upgrade option for full functionality.

**Highlights:** Remote control for VLC Media Player, Play, pause, stop, and navigate media, Control volume and aspect ratio, Manage subtitles and audio tracks, View cover art and playlist, Today widget for quick access

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Control - Annual | $4.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to set up
- 👍 Convenient remote control
- 💡 Ability to browse files and playlists
- 🚀 Responsive controls
- 👍 Useful for watching movies from the couch

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and crashes
- 👎 Confusing or outdated interface
- 🔒 Potential security concerns with required software installation
- 👎 Limited functionality in free version
- 💰 Expensive subscription for full version

**Reported bugs**

- Search function not working
- Playlist not updating correctly
- Frequent crashes or freezes
- Incompatibility with newer OS versions

**Requested features**

- Chromecast support
- System volume control
- Headset mode
- Ability to respond to dialog boxes on the local machine


### zFuse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zfuse-media-player/id1054505347)

Play any video format and encoding directly from your device or network storage without conversion. Enjoy advanced subtitle effects, gesture controls, and file management features. Supports media servers, TV casting, and privacy protection.

**Highlights:** Plays all video formats and encodings, Supports ASS/SSA/SUP effect subtitles, Network playback from PC/NAS, Gesture controls for playback and settings, Folder encryption for privacy, File download and decompression, TV casting and media server support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and smooth playback
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🔒 No ads or in-app purchases
- 💡 Supports a wide range of video formats
- 🚀 Excellent video decoding and hardware acceleration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔍 Lacking advanced video settings (color, contrast, etc.)
- 🔍 Limited subtitle support
- 🔍 Inconsistent network file sharing performance
- 🔍 Cluttered UI with too many ads in some versions

**Reported bugs**

- Playback issues with certain video codecs
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between files
- Inability to remember last playback position
- Compatibility problems on older devices

**Requested features**

- Add picture-in-picture mode
- Implement a more robust subtitle management system
- Provide more video customization options
- Improve network file sharing stability and speed
- Optimize UI for better user experience


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VLC Remote free?

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

### Is zFuse free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VLC Remote or zFuse?

VLC Remote is rated higher. VLC Remote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 599 ratings, while zFuse averages 4.7 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do VLC Remote or zFuse have ads?

zFuse shows ads; VLC Remote does not.

### Which is updated more often, VLC Remote or zFuse?

VLC Remote ships an update monthly, and zFuse every 4 weeks. Most recently, VLC Remote was updated on October 29, 2026 and zFuse on October 29, 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.*