Comparison

Garmin Audio vs Bose

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Garmin Audio

Control your marine entertainment system wirelessly from your device. Manage music sources, adjust volume zones, and navigate your library with ease. Optimize audio with advanced DSP settings for a premium listening experience on the water.

Highlights
  • Wireless remote control
  • Music source navigation
  • Independent volume zone control
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
  • Album art display
  • Over-the-air software updates
  • Digital Signal Processing (DSP) setup
Read full description

The free Garmin Audio app puts entertainment control in the palm of your hand. Whether you’re on the move or at the helm, this app gives you quick access to wireless remote control of your compatible JL Audio® or Fusion® stereo via Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® connectivity (Wi-Fi available on select stereo models only). Enjoy play / pause / skip audio control with source selection, individual zone volume control and the ability to adjust music / stereo settings (including choosing albums, artists and playlists). You will also be able to access over-the-air software updates allowing you to easily keep your compatible stereo up-to-date with the latest features. The app supports Digital Signal Processing (DSP) setup with the Easy Tune feature; where you can select customized speaker, subwoofer, amplifier and environmental profiles to enjoy premium audio that is optimized for your boat, resulting in a superior listening experience. DSP also protects your audio system by adjusting the power output to your system components. Keep a look out for future app updates which may introduce new features and improvements.

About

Bose

Control all your Bose audio products from a single app. Personalize noise cancellation, customize EQ settings, and set up your devices for seamless listening. Access your favorite music services and playlists with one-touch ease.

Highlights
  • Unified control for Bose products
  • Controllable noise cancellation
  • Customizable EQ settings
  • One-touch music presets
  • Integrated music streaming
Currently charting
Read full description

The Bose app lets you easily control all your Bose products in one place. Bose app (formerly Bose Music app) compatible speakers, soundbars, amplifiers, headphones, earbuds, OpenAudio products, and portable PA systems are designed to work together seamlessly to enhance your listening experience. GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR HEADPHONES AND EARBUDS Personalize your environment with controllable noise cancellation on our QuietComfort products. With Modes on QuietComfort products, you decide how much of the world to let in. Choose Quiet Mode for full noise cancelling, or Aware Mode to hear your surroundings and your music at the same time. Select products offer Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology, which brings the sounds around you down to a more comfortable level. The result is hearing everything you need to, but at a much more pleasant and balanced volume. All the QuietComfort and OpenAudio features, like Immersive Audio from the Ultra line, are made readily available for you. Fully customize your experience by balancing the EQ settings, picking your on-product shortcuts, and more all within the app. EASY SETUP AND TOTAL CONTROL Easily set up your products and get right to listening. Play the same content throughout your home or listen to different content in different areas—it’s up to you. The Bose app lets you control all your Bose products from any room. ONE-TOUCH ACCESS One touch and your home is filled with the music you love most. The Bose app makes it easy to set your favorite playlists or stations as presets. Then you can access them effortlessly on your app, the buttons on your speaker, or soundbar remote. ActiveSense, Bose, the B logo, and QuietComfort are trademarks of Bose Corporation. Spotify is a registered trademark of Spotify AB. TuneIn is a registered trademark of TuneIn, Inc. Google is a trademark of Google LLC. Amazon, Amazon Music, Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon, Inc. or its affiliates. Wi-Fi® is a registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance®. Pandora, the Pandora logo and the Pandora trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pandora Media, Inc. used with permission. iHeartRadio is a registered trademark of iHeartMedia, Inc. SiriusXM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc. and its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy https://worldwide.bose.com/privacypolicy California Privacy Notice of Collection https://www.bose.com/californiaprivacynoticeofcollection Location Location access is not required to use the Bose app. The app does not collect location data through your device's location services. Microphone Microphone access is optional and is used only for CustomTune, which uses audio measurements to personalize your listening experience. If you do not use CustomTune, you can decline microphone access and continue to use the rest of the app. Nearby devices Nearby devices access is required to find, connect to, and communicate with supported Bose Bluetooth products. Notifications Notification access is optional. You can decline notification access and continue to use the app.

Screenshots

Garmin Audio4 screens
Bose4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Bose at 4.8 against Garmin Audio's 4.0. Bose also leads on ratings volume (182K vs 461) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). Garmin Audio's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (69% vs 47%). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bose holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bose has 182K ratings behind it against 461, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of Garmin Audio's written reviews are positive against 47% of Bose's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Garmin Audio ships an update every 3 months, Bose monthly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Garmin Audio versus Bose: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGarmin AudioBose
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (461 ratings)4.8 (182K ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.5% of reviews — better47.3% of reviews
Number of ratings461182K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#9 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB1.1 GB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperGarminBose Corporation

Customer experience

Garmin Audio

All ratings459 ratings
Positive73.0%
Neutral5.7%
Negative21.4%
Written reviews239 reviews
Positive69.5%
Neutral8.8%
Negative21.8%

Bose

All ratings181,936 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral1.0%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews3,417 reviews
Positive47.3%
Neutral8.0%
Negative44.7%

User reviews

Garmin Audio

From 461 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Convenient remote control
  • 💡 Great for multi-zone audio control
  • 🎨 Intuitive interface
  • 🔊 Excellent sound quality

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connectivity issues
  • 🔍 Inconsistent app performance
  • 🔌 Difficulty updating firmware
  • 🤖 Lack of Apple Watch support
  • 🔇 Volume control problems

Bose

From 182K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy setup and programming
  • 🔊 Impressive sound quality
  • 👍 Useful app features
  • 💡 Customizable EQ and noise cancelling

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connectivity issues and app crashes
  • 🔌 Unreliable Bluetooth connection
  • 🤖 Lack of accessibility and voice control options
  • 🤔 Confusing app layout and navigation

Bugs and requests

Garmin Audio

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes when adjusting volume
  • Bluetooth disconnects frequently
  • Fails to detect stereo system
  • Inconsistent zone control functionality

Requested features

4 requests
  • Apple Watch app
  • More customization options
  • Improved Bluetooth/WiFi reliability
  • Streamlined firmware update process

Bose

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App frequently fails to recognize connected devices
  • Noise cancelling settings revert to default unexpectedly
  • Bluetooth pairing and reconnection issues
  • Forced firmware updates causing sound quality degradation

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add landscape mode support for iPad
  • Improve multi-device connectivity and switching
  • Provide more customization options for noise cancelling
  • Integrate with more music services like Apple Music

In-app purchases

None

Garmin Audio

No in-app purchases

None

Bose

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Garmin Audio free?
Garmin Audio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bose free?
Bose is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Garmin Audio or Bose?
Bose is rated higher. Garmin Audio averages 4.0 out of 5 from 461 ratings, while Bose averages 4.8 from 182K ratings.
Do Garmin Audio or Bose have ads?
Neither Garmin Audio nor Bose shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Garmin Audio or Bose?
Garmin Audio ships an update every 3 months, and Bose monthly. Most recently, Garmin Audio was updated on November 6, 2026 and Bose on November 6, 2026.

Other comparisons