# VLC Remote vs Outplayer

VLC Remote and Outplayer both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 86% of Outplayer's written reviews are positive against 67% of VLC Remote's. VLC Remote's advantage is iOS requirement (12.1 vs 17.0). 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 Outplayer 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 4.6 for Outplayer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 594 and 502 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of VLC Remote's written reviews are positive against 86% of Outplayer's.

VLC Remote ships an update monthly, Outplayer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VLC Remote | Outplayer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (594 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vlc-remote/id299344206/reviews)** | [4.6 (502 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outplayer/id1449923287/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **594** | 502 |
| Positive reviews | 66.5% of reviews | **86.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 40 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hobbyist Software Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/291218199) | [Stephen Salerno](https://appshunter.io/developer/866713970) |

## 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


### Outplayer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outplayer/id1449923287)

A video player designed for iOS that prioritizes speed and simplicity. Enjoy seamless playback of various video formats with advanced features like 4K HDR and spatial audio. Easily manage your media with intuitive controls and file integration.

**Highlights:** 4K HDR playback with instant seeking, Spatial audio with head tracking, Picture in Picture support, Customizable subtitle styling, Play any video format (MKV, MP4, etc.), Integration with Files app for external drives

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Outplayer Advanced | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth playback
- 👍 Intuitive and clean UI
- 🚀 Supports wide range of video formats
- 🚀 Excellent codec support
- 🚀 Hardware decoding

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Audio glitches
- 🐛 Brightness/contrast issues
- 🐛 Restore purchases bug
- 🔋 Causes device heating
- 👎 Lacks external subtitle support

**Reported bugs**

- Restore purchases bug
- Audio glitches
- Brightness/contrast issues
- Causes device heating
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add next/previous episode buttons
- Implement Trakt integration
- Add WebDAV support
- Implement variable speed playback
- Add video/folder sorting options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VLC Remote free?

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

### Is Outplayer free?

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

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

VLC Remote is rated higher. VLC Remote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 594 ratings, while Outplayer averages 4.6 from 502 ratings.

### Do VLC Remote or Outplayer have ads?

Neither VLC Remote nor Outplayer shows ads.

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

VLC Remote ships an update monthly, and Outplayer every 3 weeks. Most recently, VLC Remote was updated on October 15, 2026 and Outplayer on October 13, 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.*