# VLC Streamer vs zFuse

The clearest difference is price: VLC Streamer at Free against zFuse's $4.99. zFuse's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (78% vs 53%). On rating, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

VLC Streamer is free to download; zFuse costs $4.99 up front. VLC Streamer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. zFuse asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for VLC Streamer against 4.4 for zFuse. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 417 and 226 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 53% of VLC Streamer's written reviews are positive against 78% of zFuse's.

VLC Streamer ships an update every 3 months, zFuse every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VLC Streamer | zFuse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.5 (417 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vlc-streamer/id410036516/reviews)** | [4.4 (226 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zfuse-video-player/id1009747025/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **417** | 226 |
| Positive reviews | 53.2% of reviews | **77.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 64 MB | 152 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hobbyist Software Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/291218199) | [s-joys Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1252722512) |

## What reviewers say

### VLC Streamer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vlc-streamer/id410036516)

Stream your entire movie collection from your PC to your iPhone, iPod, or iPad without conversion. Enjoy your favorite films anywhere in your house with easy setup and customizable controls.

**Highlights:** Stream movies from PC, No conversion needed, Browse local drives and network shares, Customizable gesture controls, Support for multiple resolutions, Live video streaming

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VLC Streamer Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| VLC Streamer Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| VLC Streamer Annual | $2.99 | per year |
| VLC Streamer Annual | $5.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Smooth streaming
- 💡 Useful for accessing media library
- 👍 Great customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔋 High CPU usage on host computer
- 🔒 Security concerns with open access to computer
- 💸 Aggressive monetization with ads and subscription model

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to detect/connect to host computer
- Inconsistent video quality and buffering issues
- Conversion process causing overheating on host computer

**Requested features**

- Remote access from outside home network
- Improved codec support, especially for MKV files
- Resume playback from last position
- Ability to manage/delete files from mobile device


### zFuse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zfuse-video-player/id1009747025)

Play any video format without conversion, with advanced subtitle effects and direct media streaming from your PC or NAS. Enjoy gesture controls, folder encryption for privacy, and extensive file management features. Supports TV casting and popular media servers.

**Highlights:** Plays all video formats without conversion, Supports ASS/SSA/SUP effect subtitles, Streams media directly from PC/NAS, Gesture controls for playback and settings, Folder encryption for privacy, File download and management, TV casting and media server support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast video playback and loading speeds
- 👍 Excellent format support (various codecs and containers)
- 🎬 Strong HDR video handling
- 📁 Reliable network file access (SMB, NAS)
- 🎯 Clean and simple user interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎨 Outdated UI design (looks from 2010)
- 🐛 Frequent bugs introduced with updates
- 💔 Lack of customer support responsiveness
- 🔌 No Chromecast/casting support
- ⚠️ Inconsistent feature availability across platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Playback speed switching causes audio stuttering and crackling
- Video snapshots getting lost (long-standing bug)
- Green pixel artifacts on iPad Pro M4
- Pop-out video player discoloration after updates
- Back and forward seeking stopped working

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Segment/A-B repeat functionality
- Persistent zoom and aspect ratio settings on loop
- System time display during playback
- Subtitle display in picture-in-picture mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VLC Streamer free?

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

### Is zFuse free?

zFuse costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, VLC Streamer or zFuse?

VLC Streamer is rated higher. VLC Streamer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 417 ratings, while zFuse averages 4.4 from 226 ratings.

### Do VLC Streamer or zFuse have ads?

Neither VLC Streamer nor zFuse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VLC Streamer or zFuse?

VLC Streamer ships an update every 3 months, and zFuse every 3 weeks. Most recently, VLC Streamer was updated on October 27, 2026 and zFuse on October 26, 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.*