# AVPlayer vs zFuse

The clearest difference is price: zFuse at Free against AVPlayer's $2.99. zFuse also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (80% vs 71%). AVPlayer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

zFuse is free to download; AVPlayer costs $2.99 up front. zFuse sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. AVPlayer asks for nothing beyond the download.

zFuse holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 281 and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of AVPlayer's written reviews are positive against 80% of zFuse's.

AVPlayer ships an update every 3 weeks, zFuse every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AVPlayer | zFuse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.2 (281 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avplayer/id395680819/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zfuse-media-player/id1054505347/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 281 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 71.3% of reviews | **80.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 52 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [EPLAYWORKS](https://appshunter.io/developer/372001556) | [s-joys Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1252722512) |

## What reviewers say

### AVPlayer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avplayer/id395680819)

Play virtually any computer video format on your iPhone or iPad without conversion. Supports external subtitles and offers advanced playback controls, including speed adjustment and gesture navigation. Easily transfer files via USB or Wi-Fi.

**Highlights:** Plays AVI, WMV, Xvid, and more, Supports external SRT and SMI subtitles, Adjustable playback speed (0.5x to 2.0x), Gesture controls for navigation and speed, USB and Wi-Fi file transfer, Folder management with passcode, Resume playback from last position

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### zFuse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zfuse-media-player/id1054505347)

Play any video format and encoding directly from your device or network storage without conversion. Enjoy advanced subtitle effects, gesture controls, and file management features. Supports media servers, TV casting, and privacy protection.

**Highlights:** Plays all video formats and encodings, Supports ASS/SSA/SUP effect subtitles, Network playback from PC/NAS, Gesture controls for playback and settings, Folder encryption for privacy, File download and decompression, TV casting and media server support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and smooth playback
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🔒 No ads or in-app purchases
- 💡 Supports a wide range of video formats
- 🚀 Excellent video decoding and hardware acceleration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔍 Lacking advanced video settings (color, contrast, etc.)
- 🔍 Limited subtitle support
- 🔍 Inconsistent network file sharing performance
- 🔍 Cluttered UI with too many ads in some versions

**Reported bugs**

- Playback issues with certain video codecs
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between files
- Inability to remember last playback position
- Compatibility problems on older devices

**Requested features**

- Add picture-in-picture mode
- Implement a more robust subtitle management system
- Provide more video customization options
- Improve network file sharing stability and speed
- Optimize UI for better user experience


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AVPlayer free?

AVPlayer costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is zFuse free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AVPlayer or zFuse?

zFuse is rated higher. AVPlayer averages 4.2 out of 5 from 281 ratings, while zFuse averages 4.7 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do AVPlayer or zFuse have ads?

zFuse shows ads; AVPlayer does not.

### Which is updated more often, AVPlayer or zFuse?

AVPlayer ships an update every 3 weeks, and zFuse every 4 weeks. Most recently, AVPlayer was updated on September 27, 2026 and zFuse on September 25, 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.*