# SideCast vs IPTV Smart M3U Player

The clearest difference is rating: SideCast at 4.6 against IPTV Smart M3U Player's 4.0. SideCast also leads on ratings volume (209 vs 1) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). IPTV Smart M3U Player's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SideCast sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and IPTV Smart M3U Player sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SideCast holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SideCast has 209 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

SideCast ships an update every 3 months, IPTV Smart M3U Player every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SideCast | IPTV Smart M3U Player |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (209 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidecast/id608426917/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iptv-smart-m3u-player/id6751438233/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **209** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 92.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 156 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alerion Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1674500626) | [Vainly](https://appshunter.io/developer/1835116769) |

## What reviewers say

### SideCast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidecast/id608426917)

Easily enlarge typed messages on your device screen for clear, silent communication from a distance. Use text or emojis to convey your message, then rotate your device to share it with anyone nearby. Perfect for loud environments or private conversations.

**Highlights:** Create instant signs and billboards, Enlarge typed messages, Use text and emojis, Rotate device for display, Silent and private communication, Voice-to-text support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SideCast upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and effective communication
- 💡 Useful for various noisy environments
- 🚀 Fast and snappier UX (recent updates)
- 👍 Easy to use and understand
- 💡 Great for communicating when unable to speak

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes too often
- 🐛 Does not rotate reliably
- 🐛 Pages run into each other
- 🐛 Timed out forcing upgrade
- 🐛 Not compatible with older iOS versions (historically)

**Reported bugs**

- Freezes too often
- Side cast does not rotate more often than not
- When it does rotate, the pages run into each other
- Doesn’t work with iOS 16 (prior to recent update)
- Timed out - forced to upgrade (specific instance)

**Requested features**

- Allow selection of text and background colors
- Remove time limit (mentioned once)


### IPTV Smart M3U Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iptv-smart-m3u-player/id6751438233)

This application allows users to play IPTV streams from their own .m3u playlists. It offers smooth playback, quick access to favorites and recent channels, and supports AirPlay and Picture-in-Picture. Users are responsible for providing their own streaming URLs.

**Highlights:** Multiple .m3u playlist support, Smooth playback, Favorites and recent channels, AirPlay/Picture-in-Picture support, Simple TV guide, Complete privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Access | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SideCast free?

SideCast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is IPTV Smart M3U Player free?

IPTV Smart M3U Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SideCast or IPTV Smart M3U Player?

SideCast is rated higher. SideCast averages 4.6 out of 5 from 209 ratings, while IPTV Smart M3U Player averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do SideCast or IPTV Smart M3U Player have ads?

SideCast shows ads; IPTV Smart M3U Player does not.

### Which is updated more often, SideCast or IPTV Smart M3U Player?

SideCast ships an update every 3 months, and IPTV Smart M3U Player every 2 days. Most recently, SideCast was updated on October 20, 2026 and IPTV Smart M3U Player on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*