# BluOS Controller vs Roon ARC

The clearest difference is rating: BluOS Controller at 4.4 against Roon ARC's 3.3. BluOS Controller also leads on ratings volume (5.3K vs 196) and device support (4 vs 2). 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 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BluOS Controller has 5.3K ratings behind it against 196, 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 36% of Roon ARC's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BluOS Controller | Roon ARC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluos-controller/id566668472/reviews)** | [3.3 (196 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roon-arc/id1555549544/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.3K** | 196 |
| Positive reviews | **38.8% of reviews** | 35.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 100 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, 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 ARC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roon-arc/id1555549544)

Access your entire Roon music library and streaming services on the go. Enjoy personalized recommendations, offline listening, and advanced audio controls with a familiar interface.

**Highlights:** Access Roon library anywhere, Stream TIDAL, Qobuz, KKBOX, Offline music downloads, Personalized recommendations, Advanced audio controls (MUSE), Car integration

**Features:** Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless integration with Roon
- 🌍 Access music library anywhere
- 🔊 High-quality audio playback
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly
- 💡 Useful feature additions like EQ presets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and connection issues
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 🤖 Unreliable performance, especially on mobile networks
- 📱 Lack of iPad-optimized interface
- 🔌 Requires complex network setup for remote access

**Reported bugs**

- Corrupted media files
- Disappearing playlists
- Inability to select external storage for downloads
- Inconsistent connectivity to Roon server

**Requested features**

- Native iPad app
- Siri integration for voice control
- Improved browsing and search capabilities
- Automatic offline downloads
- MQA decoding support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BluOS Controller free?

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

### Is Roon ARC free?

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

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

BluOS Controller is rated higher. BluOS Controller averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5.3K ratings, while Roon ARC averages 3.3 from 196 ratings.

### Do BluOS Controller or Roon ARC have ads?

Neither BluOS Controller nor Roon ARC shows ads.

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

BluOS Controller ships an update monthly, and Roon ARC monthly. Most recently, BluOS Controller was updated on September 28, 2026 and Roon ARC 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.*