# BluOS Controller vs HEOS

BluOS Controller and HEOS both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 39% of BluOS Controller's written reviews are positive against 24% of HEOS's. BluOS Controller also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and device support (4 vs 2). HEOS's advantage is ratings volume (27K vs 5.3K). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for BluOS Controller against 4.4 for HEOS. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HEOS has 27K ratings behind it against 5.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 39% of BluOS Controller's written reviews are positive against 24% of HEOS's.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | BluOS Controller | HEOS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluos-controller/id566668472/reviews) | [4.4 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heos/id843129434/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5.3K | **27K** |
| Positive reviews | **38.8% of reviews** | 24.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 100 MB | 327 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bluesound](https://appshunter.io/developer/566668475) | [D&M Holdings](https://appshunter.io/developer/388608883) |

## 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


### 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 BluOS Controller free?

BluOS Controller 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, BluOS Controller or HEOS?

BluOS Controller and HEOS are both rated 4.4 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5.3K and 27K ratings respectively.

### Do BluOS Controller or HEOS have ads?

Neither BluOS Controller nor HEOS shows ads.

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

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