# XP Soundboard vs XScreenSaver

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: XScreenSaver at none against XP Soundboard's 1. XScreenSaver also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). XP Soundboard's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 6 months). On price, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. XP Soundboard sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. XScreenSaver asks for nothing beyond the download.

XScreenSaver holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 66 and 104 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of XP Soundboard's written reviews are positive against 93% of XScreenSaver's.

XP Soundboard ships an update every 3 months, XScreenSaver every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and August 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | XP Soundboard | XScreenSaver |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xp-soundboard/id383673896/reviews) | **[4.9 (104 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xscreensaver/id539014593/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 66 | **104** |
| Positive reviews | 76.9% of reviews | **92.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 14 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DSP](https://appshunter.io/developer/383673904) | [Jamie Zawinski](https://appshunter.io/developer/368900426) |

## What reviewers say

### XP Soundboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xp-soundboard/id383673896)

Experience the classic sounds of Windows XP with this soundboard app. It features 36 authentic system sounds, perfect for pranks, meme creation, or evoking 90s nostalgia. Discover hidden easter eggs and enjoy a retro interface.

**Highlights:** 36 Classic System Sounds, Startup, Shutdown & Logon Sounds, Error Notifications & Alerts, Hardware Connection Sounds, Hidden Blue Screen of Death, Retro XP-Styled Interface

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Nostalgic Windows XP sounds
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🎵 Great variety of iconic sounds
- ⚡ Works immediately without crashes
- 🎮 Fun for pranks and entertainment

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Many sounds don't play or are non-functional
- 📢 Persistent ads even after paying for removal
- 🔇 Sounds don't play when phone is on silent
- ❌ Some buttons have no sound assigned
- 🔧 Widget broken on iOS 14

**Reported bugs**

- Non-functional sound buttons with no audio files
- Sounds fail to play despite visible buttons
- Ad removal purchase not working properly
- Widget crashes on iOS 14
- Silent mode prevents all sound playback

**Requested features**

- Add missing sounds (Print Complete, Ringin, Ringout)
- Ability to customize and change sounds
- Use sounds as ringtones and alarms
- Windows 7, Vista, 95, 98 sound options
- Export sounds to iMovie


### XScreenSaver

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xscreensaver/id539014593)

Explore a vast collection of historic and educational graphics demos originally designed for Linux and Unix systems. This application allows you to interact with hundreds of these visual demonstrations, ported from the classic screen saver collection.

**Highlights:** Historic graphics demos, Educational visual content, Interactive demo playback, Large collection of visuals, Cross-platform heritage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ No ads or data collection
- 🎨 Extensive variety of screensavers
- 📱 Works seamlessly across multiple platforms (iOS, Mac, iPad)
- 🆓 Completely free application
- 🕰️ Nostalgic and retro aesthetic appeal

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes with certain screensavers
- 🎯 Difficult to tap small exit button on larger devices
- 🔋 High battery consumption on some devices
- ⚠️ Photo library screensaver crashes on iOS 13
- 🎪 Limited practical use on iOS devices

**Reported bugs**

- Photo library screensaver crashes on iOS 13
- GLText reveals password when system info is selected
- Framebuffer loading failures requiring app restart
- Crashes on certain devices or configurations
- Difficult UI for exiting screensavers on larger phones

**Requested features**

- Favorites or bookmarking system to save preferred screensavers
- Hide or exclude unwanted screensavers from rotation
- Ability to select specific channels in XAnalogTV screensaver
- Widget support for iOS standby mode
- Prevent auto-lock feature to keep screen on


## Frequently asked questions

### Is XP Soundboard free?

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

### Is XScreenSaver free?

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

### Which has better reviews, XP Soundboard or XScreenSaver?

XScreenSaver is rated higher. XP Soundboard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 66 ratings, while XScreenSaver averages 4.9 from 104 ratings.

### Do XP Soundboard or XScreenSaver have ads?

XP Soundboard shows ads; XScreenSaver does not.

### Which is updated more often, XP Soundboard or XScreenSaver?

XP Soundboard ships an update every 3 months, and XScreenSaver every 6 months. Most recently, XP Soundboard was updated on September 18, 2026 and XScreenSaver on August 19, 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.*