# BluOS Controller vs Roon

The clearest difference is rating: BluOS Controller at 4.4 against Roon's 3.6. BluOS Controller also leads on ratings volume (5.3K vs 556). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

BluOS Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BluOS Controller has 5.3K ratings behind it against 556, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of BluOS Controller's written reviews are positive against 33% of Roon's.

BluOS Controller ships an update monthly, Roon every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BluOS Controller | Roon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluos-controller/id566668472/reviews)** | [3.6 (556 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roon/id1014764083/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.3K** | 556 |
| Positive reviews | **38.8% of reviews** | 32.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 100 MB | 616 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bluesound](https://appshunter.io/developer/566668475) | [Roon Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1014764082) |

## What reviewers say

### BluOS Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluos-controller/id566668472)

Control your wireless hi-res music systems from multiple brands. Stream music from various sources, synchronize playback across rooms, and manage your entire audio experience wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet.

**Highlights:** Universal remote for BluOS-enabled systems, Wireless multi-room music streaming, Access streaming services, libraries, and radio, Synchronized playback across multiple rooms, Control from smartphone, tablet, or laptop, High-resolution audio with no lag

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great hardware and sound quality
- 💡 Versatile streaming options
- 🔒 Stable and reliable connection
- 👍 Intuitive app interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
- 🐛 Buggy app updates
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance
- 👎 Unintuitive playlist management
- 👎 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to detect/connect to players
- Playlists not saving/loading properly
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Streaming service integration issues

**Requested features**

- Improved Spotify/Apple Music integration
- Better local music library support
- Chromecast/AirPlay integration
- Customizable app interface


### Roon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roon/id1014764083)

This app serves as a controller for a Roon Server, enabling users to browse and play their music library. It offers a rich metadata-driven interface for musical discovery, connecting to over 1,000 compatible audio devices for seamless playback.

**Highlights:** Music library browsing and playback, Rich metadata for musical discovery, Connects to 1,000+ audio devices, Seamless in-home audio connection, Access music library remotely via Roon ARC, Bit-perfect playback and format support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great when it works
- 🎨 Fantastic app
- 🎧 Best way to experience music
- 🤖 Powerful music management
- 🔍 Excellent music discovery

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🔌 Unstable connection
- 🕰️ Slow performance
- 🤯 Confusing interface
- 🚫 Lack of accessibility

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on search
- Audio devices disappearing
- Volume issues after updates
- Inability to find Roon core

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Offline music playback
- Better Tidal/Spotify integration
- Improved metadata editing
- Apple Watch support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BluOS Controller free?

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

### Is Roon free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BluOS Controller or Roon?

BluOS Controller is rated higher. BluOS Controller averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5.3K ratings, while Roon averages 3.6 from 556 ratings.

### Do BluOS Controller or Roon have ads?

Neither BluOS Controller nor Roon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BluOS Controller or Roon?

BluOS Controller ships an update monthly, and Roon every 3 weeks. Most recently, BluOS Controller was updated on September 24, 2026 and Roon on September 24, 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.*