PlayStation App vs PS4 Second Screen
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PlayStation App
Stay connected with your gaming network and favorite titles on the go. Chat with friends, discover new games and deals, and manage your console remotely. Download games and add-ons, and check console storage from anywhere.
- Connect with friends online
- Voice chat and messaging
- Discover games and deals
- Remote console management
- Download games and add-ons
- View profiles and trophies
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Connect. Discover. Control. Stay connected to your gaming friends and the games you love to play, wherever you go with PlayStation App. See who's online, voice chat and send messages, and discover deals on PS Store. Connect with friends • See who's online and what games they're playing. • Voice chat and send messages to your friends, hang out online, and plan your next multiplayer session. • View other players' profiles and trophy collections. Discover new games and the latest news • Shop for new releases, pre-order games, and check out the latest deals and discounts on PlayStation Store. • Get your daily fix of gaming news from the world of PlayStation. • Stay up to date with notifications and invitations on your phone lock screen. Control your console wherever you are • Download games and add-ons to your console, so they're ready when you are. • Manage your PS5 console storage if you run out of space while downloading. • Get ready to play with quick sign-in and remote game launch on your PS5 console. An account for PlayStation is required to use this app. PlayStation terms of service are viewable at https://www.playstation.com/legal/psn-terms-of-service/. Some features require PS5 or PS4 console. Content available on PS App may vary by country/region. Some titles shown above may not be available in your country/region. “PlayStation”, “PlayStation Family Mark”, “PS5”, and “PS4” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
PS4 Second Screen
Enhance your PlayStation 4 experience by connecting your mobile device. Control your console, view in-game content, and input text directly from your smartphone or tablet.
- Basic PS4 control
- Display second screen game information
- Enter text on PS4
- Connect mobile device to PS4
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Connect your PS4 and your mobile device with the PS4 Second Screen app to enjoy the following features: • Use your mobile device for basic control of your PS4. • Display information from second screen-compatible games on your mobile device. • Enter text on your PS4 with your mobile device. A Sony Entertainment Network account is required to use this app. Use of this app is governed by the license agreement at the following URL: (http://www.scei.co.jp/legal/index.html).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PlayStation App at 4.2 against PS4 Second Screen's 2.6. PlayStation App also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (92K vs 3.7K). PS4 Second Screen's advantage is iOS requirement (12.1 vs 15.1). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
PlayStation App holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PlayStation App has 92K ratings behind it against 3.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of PlayStation App's written reviews are positive against 17% of PS4 Second Screen's.
PlayStation App ships an update every 3 weeks, PS4 Second Screen every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PlayStation App | PS4 Second Screen |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (92K ratings) — better | 2.6 (3.7K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 23.6% of reviews — better | 16.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 92K — better | 3.7K |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #34 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 12.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 118 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | PlayStation Mobile Inc. | PlayStation Mobile Inc. |
Customer experience
PlayStation App
PS4 Second Screen
User reviews
PlayStation App
From 92K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Seamless experience
- 👍 Intuitive and well-designed
- 👍 Easy access to profile, friends, and game library
- 👍 Ability to view notifications, send messages, and control console remotely
- 🛒 Convenient in-app purchases synced to console
Room to improve
- 🤔 Cluttered navigation when switching between sections
- 🐛 Occasional lags when syncing with console
- 🔔 Inconsistent and slow notification system
PS4 Second Screen
From 3.7K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Responsive and easy to use
- 👍 Useful for typing in games
- 💡 Allows remote control of PS4
- 👍 Works well when connected
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and connection issues
- 🔒 Requires extensive data collection
- 🔋 Drains device battery quickly
- 🤔 Limited functionality beyond basic controls
Bugs and requests
PlayStation App
Reported bugs
6 issues- Closing storage section on console has unresponsive button
- Inconsistent game download tracking and management
- Frequent crashes and loading issues
- Unreliable party chat and audio quality
- Authentication issues and login problems
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- Notifications not working as expected
Requested features
8 requests- Ability to delete purchased games from account
- Option to fully delete games from platforms/consoles
- Improved customer support and responsiveness
- Capture gallery integration to access and share screenshots/videos
- Wishlist feature for the store
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Ability to sort trophies by rarity/date earned
- Option to follow other players
- Landscape mode support for iPad
PS4 Second Screen
Reported bugs
3 issues- Unable to find or connect to PS4
- Keyboard input not working as expected
- App freezes on startup or during use
Requested features
4 requests- Add support for PS5 and newer games
- Improve second screen functionality
- Allow control of media apps like Netflix
- Provide a dark mode option
In-app purchases
PlayStation App
No in-app purchases
PS4 Second Screen
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is PlayStation App free?
Is PS4 Second Screen free?
Which has better reviews, PlayStation App or PS4 Second Screen?
Do PlayStation App or PS4 Second Screen have ads?
Which is updated more often, PlayStation App or PS4 Second Screen?
Other comparisons
