# DS audio vs Plexamp

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Plexamp at 75% against DS audio's 29%. Plexamp also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.8) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). DS audio's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Plexamp sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. DS audio asks for nothing beyond the download.

Plexamp holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Plexamp has 10K ratings behind it against 206, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of DS audio's written reviews are positive against 75% of Plexamp's.

DS audio ships an update every 3 months, Plexamp every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DS audio | Plexamp |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (206 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-audio/id321495303/reviews) | **[4.7 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plexamp/id1500797510/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 206 | **10K** |
| Positive reviews | 29.1% of reviews | **75.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Synology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/321493109) | [Plex Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/383457676) |

## What reviewers say

### DS audio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-audio/id321495303)

Stream your music library from your Synology NAS to your iPhone or iPad. Enjoy offline playback, organize music by various criteria, create and share playlists, and even rate your tracks. It can also function as a remote control for streaming to home stereo speakers.

**Highlights:** Stream music from Synology NAS, Offline music playback, Browse by albums, artists, genres, Create and share playlists, Rate music tracks, Remote control for home speakers

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Streaming music from NAS
- 👍 Allows offline playback
- 💡 Integrates with home audio systems
- 👍 Provides access to entire music library

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Unreliable connectivity and login issues
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance and skipping songs
- 🐛 Outdated and cluttered user interface

**Reported bugs**

- App randomly closes or stops playing
- Fails to remember playback position
- Incompatible with latest iOS versions
- Issues with downloading and caching music

**Requested features**

- Add support for Dolby Atmos and surround sound
- Implement gapless playback
- Improve playlist management and editing
- Add search and sorting functionality
- Provide better integration with CarPlay and Chromecast


### Plexamp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plexamp/id1500797510)

A dedicated music player for your Plex library, offering audiophile-grade playback features, stunning visuals, and personalized radio stations. Enjoy your music collection with advanced customization and offline listening options.

**Highlights:** Audiophile-grade playback (gapless, EQ, loudness leveling), Hypnotic visualizers and UltraBlur backgrounds, Personalized radio stations and Mix Builder, Offline listening for playlists and stations, Powerful search and playback history, Customizable themes and artist exploration

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plex Pass | $6.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plex Pass | $69.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Plex Pass | $979.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best player ever
- 👍 Gorgeous cover flow
- 👍 Flexible, fun, and friendly
- 👍 Beautiful app that functions well
- 👍 Exceptional user interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 List by folder is an insult
- 🐛 Offline music experience not great
- 🐛 Hopeless tagging
- 🐛 Can't download full playlists
- 🐛 Slow downloads

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent behavior when offline
- Search function broken
- Slow library loading
- Unreliable downloads
- Incompatibility with certain car systems

**Requested features**

- Repeat functionality
- Ability to edit metadata
- Better offline management and browsing
- Apple Watch app
- Airplay and casting support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DS audio free?

DS audio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Plexamp free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DS audio or Plexamp?

Plexamp is rated higher. DS audio averages 2.8 out of 5 from 206 ratings, while Plexamp averages 4.7 from 10K ratings.

### Do DS audio or Plexamp have ads?

Neither DS audio nor Plexamp shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DS audio or Plexamp?

DS audio ships an update every 3 months, and Plexamp every 2 weeks. Most recently, DS audio was updated on October 8, 2026 and Plexamp 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.*