# AVPlayerHD vs zFuse

The clearest difference is price: zFuse at Free against AVPlayerHD's $2.99. zFuse also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1) and review sentiment (80% vs 68%). AVPlayerHD'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; AVPlayerHD costs $2.99 up front. zFuse sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. AVPlayerHD asks for nothing beyond the download.

zFuse holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: zFuse has 1.2K ratings behind it against 215, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of AVPlayerHD's written reviews are positive against 80% of zFuse's.

AVPlayerHD ships an update every 3 weeks, zFuse every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AVPlayerHD | zFuse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (215 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avplayerhd/id407976815/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zfuse-media-player/id1054505347/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 215 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 68.0% 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 | iPad | **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

### AVPlayerHD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avplayerhd/id407976815)

This app allows you to play virtually any computer video file format on your device without the need for conversion. It supports external subtitle files and offers advanced playback controls, including speed adjustment and gesture-based navigation. Additionally, it provides features like folder management and easy file transfer via USB or Wi-Fi.

**Highlights:** Plays AVI, Xvid, WMV, MKV, and more, Supports external SMI and SRT subtitles, Adjustable playback speed (0.5X to 2.0X), Gesture controls for playback and navigation, Folder management with passcode protection, USB and Wi-Fi file transfer, Picture in Picture and Split View support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best app of my teenage years
- 🚀 Plays everything smoothly
- 👍 Excellent interface
- 👍 Reliable and dependable
- 👍 Plays a wide range of formats

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Audio sync issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Buggy file transfer

**Reported bugs**

- Picture-in-picture mode not working
- Status bar not hiding in full screen
- Can't see all files on network drive
- Dropbox and Google Drive integration broken
- Crashes when trying to delete files

**Requested features**

- Update for iPadOS 17
- Sort by name, size, date, length
- Slow speed playback (x0.25)
- Chromecast support
- Local network streaming


### 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 AVPlayerHD free?

AVPlayerHD 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, AVPlayerHD or zFuse?

zFuse is rated higher. AVPlayerHD averages 4.1 out of 5 from 215 ratings, while zFuse averages 4.7 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do AVPlayerHD or zFuse have ads?

zFuse shows ads; AVPlayerHD does not.

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

AVPlayerHD ships an update every 3 weeks, and zFuse every 4 weeks. Most recently, AVPlayerHD was updated on October 31, 2026 and zFuse on October 29, 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.*
