Comparison

Hi vs Roon

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

Head to head
About

Hi

This app provides expert reviews and buying advice for high-fidelity audio equipment, covering everything from streaming and vinyl to CD and valves. It offers a no-nonsense approach to discovering the best sound systems available.

Highlights
  • Expert audio equipment reviews
  • Buying advice for hi-fi gear
  • Coverage of streaming, vinyl, CD, and valves
  • In-app issue purchases
  • Subscription options available
  • Cross-platform purchase browsing
Features
Read full description

Hi-Fi Choice is the essential guide to getting the best possible sound from your hi-fi, whether you're buying, tuning or tweaking... It has a no-nonsense approach to reviewing the finest audio products available, from hi-res streaming and downloads to CD, vinyl and valves. Hi-Fi Choice magazine has been at the forefront of audio equipment reviews and buying advice for 40 years and no other magazine has the same passion for sound that we do! ---------------------------------------------- This is a free app download. Within the app users can purchase the current issue and back issues. Subscriptions are also available within the application. A subscription will start from the latest regular issue at the time of purchase. -The subscription will renew automatically unless cancelled more than 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for the product. -You may turn off the auto-renewal of subscriptions through your Account Settings, however you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period. -Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription to that publication is purchased. -If a subscription offers a free trial, at the end of the trial period, you will be charged the full price of the subscription. You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription settings on your iTunes account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Users can register for/ login to a pocketmags account in-app. This will protect their issues in the case of a lost device and allow browsing of purchases on multiple platforms. Existing pocketmags users can retrieve their purchases by logging into their account. We recommend loading the app for the first time in a wi-fi area so that all issue data is retrieved. If your app will not load past the splash page after a first install or an update, please delete and reinstall the app from the App Store Help and frequently asked questions can be accessed in-app and on pocketmags. If you have any problems at all please do not hesitate to contact us: help@pocketmags.com -------------------- You can find our privacy policy here: http://www.pocketmags.com/privacy.aspx You can find our terms and conditions here: http://www.pocketmags.com/terms.aspx

About

Roon

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
Read full description

*** The Roon experience requires a Roon Server on your network. *** The Roon App is another controller for your Roon Server. You browse and play your music library on over 1,000 compatible audio devices, and provides a seamless in-home connection. You can install the free Roon App on as many devices as you like. What is Roon? The very best way to experience your music: Roon reshapes the way you browse and explore music. Powered by rich metadata, Roon's interface invites you on a new journey of musical discovery every time you log in. Your music library becomes the starting point on a vast map of performers, composers, influences, and genres. Follow the path emanating from the music you love to discover exciting new sounds and reconnect with long-forgotten favorites. You can delve even deeper through lyrics, artist photos, bios, reviews, and tour dates - then continue the journey with recommendations specifically tailored to your tastes and listening habits. Listen anywhere, on all your gear: Roon lets you play from your collection of music files and TIDAL, Qobuz, and KKBOX libraries on thousands of Roon Ready, Airplay, Chromecast, and USB devices from one app inside your home. Meanwhile, Roon ARC provides access, playback, and precision audio control for your entire Roon music library directly from your phone, wherever you are in the world. Flawless playback. Everywhere, every time: Roon is built to ensure your music sounds perfect every time you hit play, no matter where you are. Roon guarantees the best possible sound quality from every piece of audio gear - our MUSE sound engine delivers bit-perfect playback, exhaustive format support, and precision audio control for a fully customizable and flawless listening experience. From headphones to your home hi-fi, and everything in between.

Screenshots

Hi4 screens
Roon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Hi at 4.8 against Roon's 3.6. Hi also leads on review sentiment (42% vs 33%) and iOS requirement (11.2 vs 15.0). Roon's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 29) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months). On price, ads 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

Both are free to download. Hi sells 29 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per 3 months. Roon asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hi holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roon has 558 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of Hi's written reviews are positive against 33% of Roon's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hi ships an update every 10 months, Roon every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Hi versus Roon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHiRoon
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (21 ratings) — better3.6 (558 ratings)
Positive reviews41.7% of reviews — better33.2% of reviews
Number of ratings21558 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.2 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB632 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMyTimeMedia LtdRoon Labs

Customer experience

Hi

All ratings21 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral4.8%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive41.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative50.0%

Roon

All ratings558 ratings
Positive59.1%
Neutral9.0%
Negative31.9%
Written reviews235 reviews
Positive33.2%
Neutral15.3%
Negative51.5%

Bugs and requests

Hi

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Roon

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

In-app purchases

29 purchases

Hi

Subscriptions3
  • Hi-Fi Choice Auto-Renewable Subscription1 Month trial$11.993 Months
  • Hi-Fi Choice Auto-Renewable Subscription1 Month trial$23.996 Months
  • Hi-Fi Choice Auto-Renewable Subscription1 Month trial$31.991 Year
One-time26
  • July 2014 (id:737690)$4.99
  • March 2014 (id:737873)$4.99
  • Yearbook 2013 (... (id:738015)$4.99
Show 23 more
  • Yearbook 2014 (id:737956)$4.99
  • June 2016 (id:750344)$4.99
  • Yearbook 2016 (id:750365)$4.99
  • Yearbook 2015 (id:751580)$4.99
  • Year Book 2023 (id:728696)$4.99
  • March 2024 (pp:1023645)$4.99
  • August 2026 (pp:1140622)$4.99
  • February 2026 (pp:1120780)$4.99
  • June 2025 (pp:1120796)$4.99
  • May 2025 (pp:1120798)$4.99
  • April 2025 (pp:1120800)$4.99
  • February 2025 (pp:1120804)$4.99
  • August 2023 (id:728714)$4.99
  • Yearbook 2024 (pp:1042051)$4.99
  • January 2024 (pp:1042058)$4.99
  • November 2024 (pp:1042072)$4.99
  • February 2017 (id:750371)$4.99
  • October 2024 (pp:1042079)$4.99
  • September 2024 (pp:1042086)$4.99
  • August 2024 (pp:1042093)$4.99
  • July 2024 (pp:1042100)$4.99
  • April 2024 (pp:1023638)$4.99
  • June 2024 (pp:1042107)$4.99
None

Roon

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hi free?
Hi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Roon free?
Roon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hi or Roon?
Hi is rated higher. Hi averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Roon averages 3.6 from 558 ratings.
Do Hi or Roon have ads?
Neither Hi nor Roon shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hi or Roon?
Hi ships an update every 10 months, and Roon every 3 weeks. Most recently, Hi was updated on October 23, 2026 and Roon on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons