JRemote vs CuriosityStream
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
JRemote
Control your JRiver Media Center library remotely from your iOS devices. Manage playback, edit metadata, and stream audio, even outside your home network. Supports DLNA devices and CarPlay.
- Full remote control of JRiver Media Center
- DLNA device control and zone management
- Automatic and manual server setup
- Edit and view file metadata
- Playback controls with HUD
- Audio streaming to iOS device
- CarPlay enabled
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JRemote is a full featured native iOS remote for JRiver Media Center. JRemote was developed to offer you full remote control of your JRiver Media Center from any of your iDevices. Please note that you need JRiver Media Center version 15 or later. We recommend you always run the latest version. Features and specs: Universal app JRemote is a universal iOS application. The application will run on both iPhone/iPod touch as well as iPad’s. Each version is optimized for it`s screen size. Navigation JRemote uses the navigation setup from JRMC itself. This allows you to customize the navigation menu and sub-menus from within the JRiver application. - Multiple view modes (list, imagelist, thumbnails) - Search using JRMC`s fuzzy search engine - Virtual remote for controlling theater view DLNA and zones Use JRemote to control all your DLNA supported devices. Any device supported in JRMC can be controlled from JRemote by switching to that specific zone. You can link and unlink zone for multi-room playback. Easy setup Connecting to your computer is fully automatic, no need to enter your IP-address and Port number. You only need to enter the access key found in JRMC`s option panel (We do provide an option for you to add IP-address and Port manually if needed). - JRemote will let you connect to your server from outside your wifi, using standard mobile networks. For this to work you need to configure port forwarding on your internet router. - Wake-On-LAN is supported if you provide your machines MAC address. (Automatic when adding a server by access key) - JRemote is CarPlay enabled. Edit and view metadata Any metadata attached to a specific file can be viewed and edited. You can update multiple files in one operation. Rating may be set from multiple locations depending on iPhone/iPad version. Player controls JRemote includes all common playback controls including repeat mode, and shuffle mode. Control volume and progress from sliders while getting feedback from the HUD display Audio streaming JRemote lets you stream all your audio files to the device itself. Just select “This device” as the current zone. - Gapless playback - Stream any file up to 96kHz, 24 bit - Downloaded progress indicator - Supported audio formats include AAC, AIFF, ALAC, APE, DSF/DFF, FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG, and WAV. - All files may be transcoded to MP3 from 128Kbs up to 320Kbs
CuriosityStream
Access a vast library of award-winning documentaries and non-fiction content covering science, nature, history, and biographies. Enjoy ad-free streaming and offline viewing for all ages, including a dedicated kids' section.
- Unlimited documentary streaming
- Offline viewing with downloads
- 4K and HD content
- New content added weekly
- CuriosityKIDS section
- Ad-free experience
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CuriosityStream is the world’s leading documentary and non-fiction streaming service covering science, nature, history, biographies of real characters of consequence and pretty much anything else you can think of. Learn about our natural world alongside luminaries like Sir David Attenborough. Look at our universe with wonder as Michio Kaku and Brian Greene broaden your perspective on space, time and the future. Step back in time and explore dinosaurs, ancient history, and the rise of homo sapiens. Curiositystream also offers CuriosityKIDS, a dedicated collection of safe, entertaining and inspiring programs for families to enjoy together or for kids to watch on their own. Let CuriosityKids spark a love of learning and a passion for exploration. Plus, all CuriosityStream shows are downloadable so you can keep kids entertained while on the go. Whether your kids are budding astronomers, paleontologists, or historians, CuriosityStream has got you covered with award-winning, ad-free content. Join more than 20 million CuriosityStream subscribers and explore thousands of brain-boosting documentaries. CuriosityStream membership benefits: - Unlimited streaming of the best in documentary programming - Download shows so you can watch anytime, anywhere without an internet connection - 4K and HD documentaries available on multiple devices - New content added weekly so you’ll never run out of things to watch - Browse titles with multiple search tools to help you quickly find your favorite subject areas - Rate your favorite shows and get recommendations for related content - Bookmark shows to watch later or resume watching previously viewed shows on other devices You may cancel your membership and stop the billing anytime by logging into your account. Please Note: - Payment will be charged to the user's iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase -Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase By downloading this application, you agree to the CuriosityStream Terms of Use (https://curiositystream.com/terms) and Privacy Policy (https://curiositystream.com/privacy).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: CuriosityStream at Free against JRemote's $12.99. CuriosityStream also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (6.3K vs 28). JRemote's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and review sentiment (63% vs 31%). On ads and device support 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
CuriosityStream is free to download; JRemote costs $12.99 up front. CuriosityStream sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. JRemote asks for nothing beyond the download.
CuriosityStream holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CuriosityStream has 6.3K ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of JRemote's written reviews are positive against 31% of CuriosityStream's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
JRemote ships an update every 3 months, CuriosityStream monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | JRemote | CuriosityStream |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.8 (28 ratings) | 4.6 (6.3K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.7% of reviews — better | 30.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 28 | 6.3K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #184 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | JRiver | CuriosityStream, LLC |
Customer experience
JRemote
CuriosityStream
User reviews
JRemote
From 28 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Excellent remote control
- 🔒 Stable and reliable
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 👍 Great companion to JRiver Media Center
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and connection issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems with latest iOS versions
- 🐛 Bugs with video playback
- 🐛 Settings revert unexpectedly
- 🔋 High battery consumption
CuriosityStream
From 6.3K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great content
- 💡 Excellent value for money
- 👍 Diverse range of documentaries
- 👍 Informative and educational
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
- 🐛 Streaming issues and buffering problems
- 🐛 Poor user interface and navigation
- 🐛 Chromecast/casting support issues
- 🐛 Inconsistent playback controls
Bugs and requests
JRemote
Reported bugs
5 issues- Crashes when trying to play videos
- Inability to connect to media server
- Inconsistent behavior when changing media server IP
- Playback issues with certain audio formats
- Album art not updating when song changes
Requested features
8 requests- Offline music playback
- Ability to control DSP settings
- Customizable views and layouts
- Gapless playback
- Playlist creation and management
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- CarPlay support
- Synced cover art display
- Metadata editing capabilities
CuriosityStream
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes on launch
- Videos not resuming from last position
- Casting issues and video playback problems
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
Requested features
5 requests- Offline downloads
- Profiles/multiple user support
- Improved search and recommendation features
- Better integration with TV platforms
- Customizable playback controls
In-app purchases
JRemote
No in-app purchases
CuriosityStream
- Basic$5.991 Month
- Standard$5.991 Month
- Smart Bundle$11.991 Month
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Basic$49.991 Year
- Standard$49.991 Year
- Smart Bundle$79.991 Year
Questions
Is JRemote free?
Is CuriosityStream free?
Which has better reviews, JRemote or CuriosityStream?
Do JRemote or CuriosityStream have ads?
Which is updated more often, JRemote or CuriosityStream?
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