# AVPlayerHD vs Swiftfin

The clearest difference is price: Swiftfin at Free against AVPlayerHD's $2.99. Swiftfin also leads on device support (3 vs 1). AVPlayerHD's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Swiftfin is free to download; AVPlayerHD costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

AVPlayerHD holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 215 and 267 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of AVPlayerHD's written reviews are positive against 53% of Swiftfin's.

AVPlayerHD ships an update every 3 weeks, Swiftfin every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AVPlayerHD | Swiftfin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.1 (215 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avplayerhd/id407976815/reviews)** | [3.8 (267 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftfin/id1604098728/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 215 | **267** |
| Positive reviews | **64.3% of reviews** | 53.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 52 MB | 186 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [EPLAYWORKS](https://appshunter.io/developer/372001556) | [Anthony Lavado](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480192617) |

## 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


### Swiftfin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftfin/id1604098728)

Stream your video collection from a Jellyfin media server to your iOS device. Enjoy an easy-to-use interface for your media library and watch live TV if you have the necessary hardware.

**Highlights:** Native iOS/iPadOS video player, Connects to Jellyfin media servers, Stream video collection, Easy-to-use interface, Watch Live TV (with hardware)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Smooth and responsive UI
- 🚀 Fast and efficient media playback
- 🔒 Secure user profiles and pin protection
- 💡 Seamless switching between multiple user accounts
- 👍 Clean and modern app design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔋 Inconsistent battery performance
- 🔒 Difficulty changing server IP/domain
- 🐛 Issues with subtitle and audio track selection
- 🐛 Unreliable live TV and DVR functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to connect to Jellyfin server after recent updates
- Sorting and filtering not working as expected
- Playback issues with certain video codecs and formats
- Home bar not disappearing during video playback
- Sync issues between iOS and tvOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add offline media download capability
- Implement Picture-in-Picture mode
- Introduce a shuffle option for episodes
- Integrate e-book and audiobook support
- Allow customization of media library views


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AVPlayerHD free?

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

### Is Swiftfin free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AVPlayerHD or Swiftfin?

AVPlayerHD is rated higher. AVPlayerHD averages 4.1 out of 5 from 215 ratings, while Swiftfin averages 3.8 from 267 ratings.

### Do AVPlayerHD or Swiftfin have ads?

Neither AVPlayerHD nor Swiftfin shows ads.

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

AVPlayerHD ships an update every 3 weeks, and Swiftfin every 3 months. Most recently, AVPlayerHD was updated on September 25, 2026 and Swiftfin on September 22, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
