# VLC Streamer vs CyberLink PowerPlayer

The clearest difference is rating: VLC Streamer at 4.5 against CyberLink PowerPlayer's 3.7. VLC Streamer also leads on review sentiment (46% vs 27%) and ratings volume (415 vs 29). CyberLink PowerPlayer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 3 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VLC Streamer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. CyberLink PowerPlayer asks for nothing beyond the download.

VLC Streamer holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VLC Streamer has 415 ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of VLC Streamer's written reviews are positive against 27% of CyberLink PowerPlayer's.

VLC Streamer ships an update every 3 months, CyberLink PowerPlayer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and August 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VLC Streamer | CyberLink PowerPlayer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (415 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vlc-streamer/id410036516/reviews)** | [3.7 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cyberlink-powerplayer/id1477605177/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **415** | 29 |
| Positive reviews | **45.7% of reviews** | 26.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 64 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hobbyist Software Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/291218199) | [CyberLink](https://appshunter.io/developer/371275353) |

## 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


### CyberLink PowerPlayer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cyberlink-powerplayer/id1477605177)

Access and play your shared media from your home network or cloud storage on your iPhone or iPad. Stream movies, TV shows, photos, and music seamlessly between devices and share content with friends and family.

**Highlights:** Playback shared media via Wi-Fi, Playback from CyberLink Cloud, Seamless playback handoff, Upload media to cloud, Create sharable links, Password-protect shared links

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VLC Streamer free?

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

### Is CyberLink PowerPlayer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VLC Streamer or CyberLink PowerPlayer?

VLC Streamer is rated higher. VLC Streamer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 415 ratings, while CyberLink PowerPlayer averages 3.7 from 29 ratings.

### Do VLC Streamer or CyberLink PowerPlayer have ads?

Neither VLC Streamer nor CyberLink PowerPlayer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VLC Streamer or CyberLink PowerPlayer?

VLC Streamer ships an update every 3 months, and CyberLink PowerPlayer every 2 months. Most recently, VLC Streamer was updated on September 12, 2026 and CyberLink PowerPlayer on August 12, 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.*