# Garmin Audio vs HEOS

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Garmin Audio at 69% against HEOS's 24%. Garmin Audio also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). HEOS's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (27K vs 453). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

HEOS holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HEOS has 27K 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 24% of HEOS'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, HEOS every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Garmin Audio | HEOS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (453 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-audio/id520377783/reviews) | **[4.4 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heos/id843129434/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 453 | **27K** |
| Positive reviews | **69.1% of reviews** | 24.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 54 MB | 327 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [D&M Holdings](https://appshunter.io/developer/388608883) |

## 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


### HEOS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heos/id843129434)

Control a wide range of connected audio devices from Denon, Marantz, and Definitive Technology. Stream music from online services or local storage, and enjoy true multi-room audio with easy setup and intuitive control.

**Highlights:** True multi-room audio, Quick and easy setup, Access online music services, Search across multiple music sources, Control playback remotely, Access locally stored music

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent sound quality
- 🔒 Robust wireless connectivity
- 👍 Convenient app control
- 💡 Integrates with various music services

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable app
- 👎 Poor user interface and navigation
- 🔌 Connectivity issues and frequent disconnects
- 💤 Slow app performance and loading times

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes frequently
- Speakers randomly disappear from the network
- Volume controls are inconsistent and unreliable
- Sync issues between grouped speakers

**Requested features**

- Add support for Apple Music
- Improve playlist management and queue functionality
- Provide better customization options for rooms and speakers
- Implement a more intuitive and user-friendly app design


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Garmin Audio free?

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

### Is HEOS free?

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

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

HEOS is rated higher. Garmin Audio averages 4.0 out of 5 from 453 ratings, while HEOS averages 4.4 from 27K ratings.

### Do Garmin Audio or HEOS have ads?

Neither Garmin Audio nor HEOS shows ads.

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

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