# 8player vs zFuse

The clearest difference is price: 8player at Free against zFuse's $4.99. zFuse's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 2.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

8player is free to download; zFuse costs $4.99 up front. 8player sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. zFuse asks for nothing beyond the download.

zFuse holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 174 and 228 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of 8player's written reviews are positive against 78% of zFuse's.

8player ships an update fortnightly, zFuse every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | 8player | zFuse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [2.8 (174 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8player/id375860275/reviews) | **[4.4 (228 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zfuse-video-player/id1009747025/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 174 | **228** |
| Positive reviews | 43.3% of reviews | **77.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 96 MB | 152 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [8soft Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/425721905) | [s-joys Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1252722512) |

## What reviewers say

### 8player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8player/id375860275)

This versatile media player allows you to stream, download, and enjoy videos, music, and photos from various sources. It offers a clean interface, offline playback, and supports a wide range of file formats across iOS and Apple TV devices.

**Highlights:** Stream from cloud and network services, Download for offline playback, Supports DLNA/UPnP, SMB, FTP, Wide range of video, audio, and image format support, Create and manage music playlists, Cast to DLNA and Chromecast devices

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Annual | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 💡 Supports wide range of file formats
- 🎨 Elegant and visually appealing interface
- 🔌 Seamless DLNA/UPnP connectivity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🚫 Lack of support for certain video codecs
- 🔍 Limited search and browsing functionality
- 🔇 Unreliable Bluetooth speaker connectivity
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly during use

**Reported bugs**

- SMB connectivity issues after recent updates
- Subtitles not displaying correctly for some video files
- Playback freezes or stops when minimizing the app
- Inconsistent behavior when playing next/previous tracks

**Requested features**

- Add gapless playback for music
- Implement a more robust file sorting/browsing system
- Integrate Chromecast support
- Introduce an equalizer for audio customization
- Add password/security protection options


### zFuse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zfuse-video-player/id1009747025)

Play any video format without conversion, with advanced subtitle effects and direct media streaming from your PC or NAS. Enjoy gesture controls, folder encryption for privacy, and extensive file management features. Supports TV casting and popular media servers.

**Highlights:** Plays all video formats without conversion, Supports ASS/SSA/SUP effect subtitles, Streams media directly from PC/NAS, Gesture controls for playback and settings, Folder encryption for privacy, File download and management, TV casting and media server support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast video playback and loading speeds
- 👍 Excellent format support (various codecs and containers)
- 🎬 Strong HDR video handling
- 📁 Reliable network file access (SMB, NAS)
- 🎯 Clean and simple user interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎨 Outdated UI design (looks from 2010)
- 🐛 Frequent bugs introduced with updates
- 💔 Lack of customer support responsiveness
- 🔌 No Chromecast/casting support
- ⚠️ Inconsistent feature availability across platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Playback speed switching causes audio stuttering and crackling
- Video snapshots getting lost (long-standing bug)
- Green pixel artifacts on iPad Pro M4
- Pop-out video player discoloration after updates
- Back and forward seeking stopped working

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Segment/A-B repeat functionality
- Persistent zoom and aspect ratio settings on loop
- System time display during playback
- Subtitle display in picture-in-picture mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 8player free?

8player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is zFuse free?

zFuse costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 8player or zFuse?

zFuse is rated higher. 8player averages 2.8 out of 5 from 174 ratings, while zFuse averages 4.4 from 228 ratings.

### Do 8player or zFuse have ads?

Neither 8player nor zFuse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 8player or zFuse?

8player ships an update fortnightly, and zFuse every 3 weeks. Most recently, 8player was updated on November 1, 2026 and zFuse on November 1, 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.*