# hi vs JPLAY

The clearest difference is rating: hi at 4.8 against JPLAY's 4.2. hi also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). JPLAY's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. hi sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per 6 months and JPLAY sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

hi holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 56 and 54 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of hi's written reviews are positive against 59% of JPLAY's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

hi ships an update every 6 months, JPLAY every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | hi | JPLAY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (56 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hi-fi-plus-global-network/id406476043/reviews)** | [4.2 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **56** | 54 |
| Positive reviews | 51.1% of reviews | **58.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 18 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Absolute Multimedia UK Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1544264482) | [Marcin Ostapowicz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1608773459) |

## What reviewers say

### hi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hi-fi-plus-global-network/id406476043)

Explore the world of high-end audio with Europe's leading English-language magazine. Discover the finest audio components, from classic amplifiers to state-of-the-art music servers, and find the latest music to enrich your listening experience.

**Highlights:** High-end audio reviews, Latest digital audio technology, Turntable and amplifier features, Music server insights, Music discovery, Expert audiophile writers

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hi-Fi Plus | $14.99 | per 6 months |
| Hi-Fi Plus | $24.99 | per year |
| Hi-Fi+ Issue 78 (id:353221) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hi-Fi+ Issue 81 (id:353215) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hi-Fi+ Issue 131 (id:410644) | $2.99 | one-time |
| issue134 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hi-Fi+ & TAS Ul... (id:446013) | $3.99 | one-time |
| hi-fi+ Issue 245 (pp:1114081) | $3.99 | one-time |
| hi-fi+ Issue 235 (pp:1009611) | $3.99 | one-time |
| hi-fi+ Issue 234 (pp:1009617) | $3.99 | one-time |
| hi-fi+ Issue 233 (pp:1009623) | $3.99 | one-time |
| HiFiPlus 6 back issue bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| 8 issue subscription | $17.99 | one-time |
| 16 issue subscription | $29.99 | one-time |


### 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 hi free?

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

### Is JPLAY free?

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

### Which has better reviews, hi or JPLAY?

hi is rated higher. hi averages 4.8 out of 5 from 56 ratings, while JPLAY averages 4.2 from 54 ratings.

### Do hi or JPLAY have ads?

Neither hi nor JPLAY shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, hi or JPLAY?

hi ships an update every 6 months, and JPLAY every 3 weeks. Most recently, hi was updated on October 23, 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.*