Comparison

Rocket Video Cast vs HLS Player

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Rocket Video Cast

Stream any web video directly to your TV with this app. It also functions as a file manager, allowing you to store, organize, and play videos offline on your device or cast them to a larger screen. Supports a wide range of video formats and includes a built-in web browser.

Highlights
  • Cast web videos to TV
  • Full-featured file manager
  • Built-in web browser
  • Organize files in folders
  • Playlists and background audio
  • Multi-format video/audio player
  • FTP server for file transfer
Features
Read full description

Unleash your TV with Rocket Video Cast. With Rocket you can browse the web and stream any web video on your TV. Rocket is also a fully featured file manager that allows you to store files to your iOS device. You can then view the stored files right on your device offline or transfer them to your computer, and of course you can cast your stored videos to your big screen, just copy them into the app using iTunes File Sharing. Features: - Cast videos from all major streaming video sites - Cast from major file sharing sites - Full featured web browser - Start screen with the most frequent visited history entry's - Open saved tabs on startup - Real-time search in your browsing history, bookmarks and tabs - Search engine integration in the Address bar - Share URL's via Twitter, Mail - Search in the website - Passcode protected - FTP Server to transfer files in and out of the app - FIle Manager to organize your files in folders etc. - Playlists and background audio - Address bar search engine options (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, StartPage can be changed App Settings > Search Engine) - Multi format video/audio player allows you to play almost any video and audio format without leaving the app (wmv, mpeg, mpeg1, mpeg2, mpeg4, 3gp, sf, avi, divx, dv, gxf, m2p, m2ts, m2v, m4v, mkv, moov, mov, mp4, mpg, mpv, mt2s, mts, mxf, ogm, ogv, ps, qt, ts, vob, webm, wm, mp3, m4a, wma). - Extract audio from mp4 files (convert to mp3) - Cast your Rocket playlist for files in the app ..and lots lots more. Supported format for TV include mp4, m4v, m3u8, hls, and live streams are supported. IMPORTANT NOTES, PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING: Flash video, iTunes purchased videos, Silverlight and other DRM protected videos like Amazon Instant Videos, HBO now, Hulu, Netflix are not supported! This app is not affiliated with Google or one of its products or trademarks and is developed independently.

About

HLS Player

Features
Read full description

『 Experience Flawless Live & VOD Streaming 』 Are you tired of buffering and low-quality playback when trying to watch your favorite HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) content or M3U8 video streams? The HLS Player app is your ultimate solution for smooth, high-quality video playback on your device. Designed for both live streams and Video-on-Demand (VOD), our powerful adaptive video player ensures you get the best viewing experience, regardless of your network conditions. 『 Key Features & Benefits 』 ① Comprehensive HLS & M3U8 Compatibility - Plays all types of HLS streams seamlessly, from basic .m3u8 playlists to complex multi-bitrate adaptive streams. - Fully supports M3U8 playlist files, allowing you to stream content from various sources, including network URLs, local files, and web links. - Compatible with standard video codecs (H.264, H.265/HEVC) and audio codecs (AAC, MP3). ② Smooth & Adaptive Streaming Technology - Adaptive Bitrate Streaming: Our intelligent player automatically adjusts the video quality in real-time based on your internet speed, minimizing buffering and ensuring uninterrupted playback for all your HLS and M3U8 videos. - Rapid Loading: Experience fast stream initialization and quick content loading, so you can jump straight into watching your desired video streams without frustrating delays. - Hardware Acceleration: Leverages your device's hardware for efficient video decoding, resulting in smoother performance and reduced battery consumption, even for high-resolution HLS streams. ③ Flexible Content Input & Management - Direct URL Playback: Simply paste any HLS M3U8 URL or other network video link to start streaming instantly. - Recent History: Automatically saves your recently played HLS and M3U8 streams for quick access. - Custom Playlists: Create and organize your own custom lists of favorite HLS streams for personalized access. ④ Intuitive User Interface & Advanced Controls - Clean and User-Friendly Design: Enjoy a simple and intuitive interface that makes navigating and controlling your HLS videos effortless for everyone. - Full-Screen Immersion: Immerse yourself in your streaming content with a dedicated full-screen viewing mode. - Playback Speed Adjustment: Customize your viewing experience by controlling the playback speed of your HLS M3U8 streams. ⑤ Secure & Reliable Connection - HTTPS Support: Our player supports secure HTTPS connections, ensuring your video streams are protected. - Proxy Compatibility: If your network setup requires it, our player can connect via a proxy server. 『 Must-Have for 』 • Users who frequently watch live HLS streams (e.g., IPTV, sports events, news channels). • Anyone needing a dedicated and reliable M3U8 player for various online video content. • Developers or quality assurance testers who need to efficiently check HLS stream functionality. • Individuals looking for a versatile and high-performance video player that excels in adaptive streaming. • Users experiencing constant buffering issues with other standard video players. Download the HLS Player now and transform your mobile video watching experience. Enjoy flawless HLS and M3U8 playback with ultimate smoothness, speed, and quality!

Screenshots

Rocket Video Cast4 screens
HLS Player4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HLS Player at Free against Rocket Video Cast's $1.99. HLS Player also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Rocket Video Cast's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

HLS Player is free to download; Rocket Video Cast costs $1.99 up front. Rocket Video Cast sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HLS Player asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Rocket Video Cast ships an update every 2 months, HLS Player every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Rocket Video Cast versus HLS Player: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRocket Video CastHLS Player
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (958 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews81.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings958 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB77 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAmeen ModyCHANG DEOK KIM

Bugs and requests

Rocket Video Cast

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Doesn't cast anymore
  • Can't download videos anymore
  • Crashes when receiving calls
  • Doesn't work with newer iPhones
  • Constant errors and crashes
Show 1 more
  • Doesn't work with VPN

Requested features

6 requests
  • Update for iOS 16
  • Add pop-up blockers
  • Improve file management
  • Add search bar in download
  • Support for newer iPhones
Show 1 more
  • Improve UI/UX

HLS Player

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Rocket Video Cast

One-time1
  • Upgrade to Rocket Pro$0.99
None

HLS Player

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Rocket Video Cast free?
Rocket Video Cast costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is HLS Player free?
HLS Player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Rocket Video Cast or HLS Player have ads?
HLS Player shows ads; Rocket Video Cast does not.
Which is updated more often, Rocket Video Cast or HLS Player?
Rocket Video Cast ships an update every 2 months, and HLS Player every 6 weeks. Most recently, Rocket Video Cast was updated on November 10, 2026 and HLS Player on October 30, 2026.

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