# Focal & Naim vs JPLAY

The clearest difference is rating: JPLAY at 4.2 against Focal & Naim's 2.2. JPLAY also leads on review sentiment (59% vs 23%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). Focal & Naim's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (254 vs 54). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. JPLAY sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. Focal & Naim asks for nothing beyond the download.

JPLAY holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 254 and 54 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of Focal & Naim's written reviews are positive against 59% of JPLAY's.

Focal & Naim ships an update every 5 weeks, JPLAY every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focal & Naim | JPLAY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (254 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focal-and-naim/id381694252/reviews) | **[4.2 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **254** | 54 |
| Positive reviews | 23.2% of reviews | **58.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 448 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Naim Audio Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/345898788) | [Marcin Ostapowicz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1608773459) |

## What reviewers say

### Focal & Naim

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focal-and-naim/id381694252)

This app unifies your music experience, offering seamless control over your audio devices and streaming services. Manage your entire ecosystem, set up new products, and enjoy high-resolution playback with personalized settings.

**Highlights:** Unified ecosystem control, Intuitive product setup, High-resolution streaming, Multi-room audio synchronization, Personalized EQ and settings, Internet radio access, CarPlay integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 App works well
- 👍 Focal app works fine
- 👍 Naim app works well with Uniti Atom
- 👍 Seamless Tidal integration
- 👍 Reliable connectivity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and crashes
- 🐛 Unstable app, unreliable connectivity
- 🐛 Buggy, freezes, and loses connection
- 🐛 Constantly needs to be reset
- 🐛 Struggles to find and connect to devices

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent disconnections from devices
- Inability to find and connect to devices
- Crashes and freezes during use
- Issues with firmware updates
- Compatibility problems with iOS 16

**Requested features**

- Improve volume control granularity
- Add EQ controls and presets
- Improve Tidal integration
- Enhance radio station browsing
- Implement better multi-room support


### JPLAY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457)

This app is a high-fidelity music player designed for audiophiles. It seamlessly integrates streaming services like Qobuz and Tidal with local music files, offering a unified interface for all your audio content. Experience superior sound quality and discover new music through its intuitive design and advanced features.

**Highlights:** Plays Qobuz, Tidal, and local music files, Works with most streamers and network DACs, HQPlayer Control API integration, Dramatically better sound quality, Radio feature for music discovery, Extended playlist management, Artist bios and album reviews

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| JPLAY Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $149.00 | one-time |
| JPLAY Lifetime | $199.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Superior sound quality compared to competitors
- 👍 Intuitive and clean user interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive app performance
- 🔌 Seamless UPnP/DLNA integration
- 📱 Works without requiring a server

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription pricing ($50/year, $199 lifetime)
- ❌ No monthly subscription option available
- 🐛 Frequent connectivity and playback issues
- 📱 iOS-only application
- 🔄 No cross-device synchronization

**Reported bugs**

- Tracks fail to render or play from Tidal
- App crashes on startup with older iOS versions
- Playback stuttering and lag issues
- Renderer in transition errors
- Device discovery failures

**Requested features**

- Monthly subscription option
- Cross-device synchronization for playlists and favorites
- EQ and tone adjustment controls
- DSD file playback support
- Multi-room audio capability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focal & Naim free?

Focal & Naim is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is JPLAY free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Focal & Naim or JPLAY?

JPLAY is rated higher. Focal & Naim averages 2.2 out of 5 from 254 ratings, while JPLAY averages 4.2 from 54 ratings.

### Do Focal & Naim or JPLAY have ads?

Neither Focal & Naim nor JPLAY shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Focal & Naim or JPLAY?

Focal & Naim ships an update every 5 weeks, and JPLAY every 3 weeks. Most recently, Focal & Naim was updated on October 26, 2026 and JPLAY on October 27, 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.*