Comparison

Garmin Audio vs MO 4Media

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

MO 4Media

Control your JRiver Media Center remotely and play media directly on your device. Stream audio, video, and images, with options for offline playback and casting to other devices. Requires JRiver Media Center software running on a computer.

Highlights
  • Remote control for JRiver Media Center
  • Local media playback
  • AirPlay and Chromecast casting
  • Offline playback
  • Playlist management
  • Wake-On-LAN support
Features
Read full description

MO 4Media is a remote control for JRiver Media Center (MC) software running on a computer (we have no affiliation with JRiver, Inc.). It also can play back media from the MC library locally to the device, play to AirPlay devices, and cast to Chromecast devices. A running copy of JRiver Media Center on a networked computer is required. You must enable "Media Network" in MC for you to be able to connect and access your media. See https://www.jriver.com to install and get more information. Features: - Control MC playback over WiFi with your device - Control separate zones and link/unlink playback between zones - Play audio/music files to your device with optional volume leveling/replay gain adjustment during playback, optional file conversion, and gapless playback for unconverted files - Play video files to your device with optional file conversion - View images on your device with optional file conversion - Run macros (list of network commands) when zones are selected or unselected. These can be MCC (control MC) or TCP (control networked A/V equipment). - On-screen volume buttons can control MC or networked A/V equipment volumes - Create, add files to, and edit playlists - Theater View remote control - Wake-On-LAN - Download files with offline playback - Seeking during playback - Custom UI colors - Option for Video playback in external player - Casting support - AirPlay support This version is now free to use without a subscription (no limitations). Notes: - To customize the library items that you can browse edit the MC options: "Tools | Options | Media Network | Advanced | Custom views for JRemote, Gizmo & Panel..." - Cover art is intentionally missing from screenshots but will display properly in the app with your library Privacy Policy: https://cncb-gh.github.io/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://cncb-gh.github.io/terms.html

Screenshots

Garmin Audio4 screens
MO 4Media4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Garmin Audio at 4.0 against MO 4Media's 3.3. Garmin Audio also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (69% vs 40%). MO 4Media's advantage is iOS requirement (10.3 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model 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. MO 4Media sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $6.99 per year. Garmin Audio asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Garmin Audio holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Audio has 453 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Garmin Audio's written reviews are positive against 40% of MO 4Media's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Garmin Audio ships an update every 3 months, MO 4Media every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Garmin Audio versus MO 4Media: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGarmin AudioMO 4Media
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (453 ratings) — better3.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews69.1% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings453 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.010.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB57 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGarminCraig Baldwin

Customer experience

Garmin Audio

All ratings453 ratings
Positive72.6%
Neutral5.7%
Negative21.6%
Written reviews236 reviews
Positive69.1%
Neutral8.9%
Negative22.0%

MO 4Media

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

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

MO 4Media

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Garmin Audio

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

MO 4Media

Subscriptions1
  • MO 4Media Annual Subscription7 Days trial$6.991 Year

Questions

Is Garmin Audio free?
Garmin Audio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MO 4Media free?
MO 4Media is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Garmin Audio or MO 4Media?
Garmin Audio is rated higher. Garmin Audio averages 4.0 out of 5 from 453 ratings, while MO 4Media averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Garmin Audio or MO 4Media have ads?
Neither Garmin Audio nor MO 4Media shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Garmin Audio or MO 4Media?
Garmin Audio ships an update every 3 months, and MO 4Media every 2 months. Most recently, Garmin Audio was updated on September 25, 2026 and MO 4Media on June 3, 2026.

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