# Garmin Audio vs Sonos

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Garmin Audio at 69% against Sonos's 17%. Garmin Audio also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). Sonos's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sonos sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Garmin Audio asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sonos holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sonos has 927K ratings behind it against 453, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of Garmin Audio's written reviews are positive against 17% of Sonos's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Garmin Audio ships an update every 3 months, Sonos fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Garmin Audio | Sonos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (453 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-audio/id520377783/reviews) | **[4.6 (927K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonos/id1488977981/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 453 | **927K** |
| Positive reviews | **69.1% of reviews** | 17.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#24** |
| Size | 54 MB | 208 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [Sonos, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/293523034) |

## What reviewers say

### Garmin Audio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-audio/id520377783)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch app
- More customization options
- Improved Bluetooth/WiFi reliability
- Streamlined firmware update process


### Sonos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonos/id1488977981)

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Free · Music, #26 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

This app centralizes your music and audio content for seamless control of your home sound system. Easily manage playback across multiple rooms, discover new music, and personalize your listening experience with saved favorites and custom settings.

**Highlights:** Unified content and control, Multi-room audio playback, Streaming service integration, Personalized music library, Easy product setup, Voice control integration

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sonos Radio HD Monthly | $9.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless upgrade process
- 🔒 Robust connectivity
- 👍 Great sound quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
- 🔍 Confusing and buggy app
- ⏱️ Slow and unresponsive app
- 🔄 Speakers randomly disappearing
- 🤯 Frustrating app updates

**Reported bugs**

- App unable to connect to speakers
- Speakers not recognized after updates
- Inconsistent volume and playback controls

**Requested features**

- Improved app stability and responsiveness
- Restore legacy features (alarms, queues, etc.)
- Customizable app interface


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Garmin Audio free?

Garmin Audio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sonos free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Garmin Audio or Sonos?

Sonos is rated higher. Garmin Audio averages 4.0 out of 5 from 453 ratings, while Sonos averages 4.6 from 927K ratings.

### Do Garmin Audio or Sonos have ads?

Sonos shows ads; Garmin Audio does not.

### Which is updated more often, Garmin Audio or Sonos?

Garmin Audio ships an update every 3 months, and Sonos fortnightly. Most recently, Garmin Audio was updated on September 25, 2026 and Sonos on September 25, 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.*