UE | BOOM vs JBL Portable
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
UE | BOOM
Enhance your audio experience with this app designed to control and customize compatible wireless speakers. Connect multiple speakers for synchronized playback, adjust sound profiles, and manage speaker settings remotely. Stay updated with the latest features through seamless software updates.
- Connect up to 150 speakers with PartyUp
- Customizable EQ and sound control
- Remote power on/off and speaker management
- Personalize speaker name and presets
- Update speaker software with new features
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The BOOM app by Ultimate Ears has everything you need to get the most out of your Ultimate Ears speaker. From PartyUp to customizable EQ, unlock even more awesome ways to use your BOOM series speakers. - PartyUp lets you connect up to 150 speakers to take your parties to a whole new level - wherever, whenever, whatever! - You control the sound: All about that bass? In a tight space? You control the atmosphere with a couple of built-in EQ and custom options. - Remote control: Use the app to turn power on/off your speakers and other controls from afar. - Much more: personalize your speaker’s name, EQ preferences, and preset playlists (BOOM 3, MEGABOOM 3, BOOM 4,MEGABOOM 4, HYPERBOOM, EPICBOOM and EVERBOOM only) - Subscribe to updates so you never miss a thing. A simple tap in the app updates your speaker with the latest features in no time. - Sign-up to subscribe to Ultimate Ears newsletters and special offers.
JBL Portable
Enhance your JBL portable speaker experience with this app. Connect, control, and personalize your audio device to amplify sound, create a party atmosphere, or receive software updates and support.
- Connect to compatible JBL speakers
- Stereo and Party modes
- Personalize speaker settings
- Control speaker functions
- Software updates
- Product support
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Download the JBL Portable app to get the most out of your JBL portable speakers and unlock more features. Compatible with the following speakers: - Clip 5 - Go 4, Go 4 DUO - Grip - Flip 7, Flip 6, Flip 5, Flip 4, Flip 3 - Charge 6, Charge 5, Charge 4, Charge 3 - Pulse 5, Pulse 4, Pulse 3, Pulse 2 - Tuner 3 - Xtreme 4, Xtreme 3, Xtreme 2, Xtreme - Boombox 4, Boombox 3, Boombox 2, Boombox App features: - Connect to compatible JBL portable speakers for Stereo to amplify sound or Party mode for a bigger party - Personalize and control your speaker straight from the app - Get additional software updates and product support
Screenshots
Verdict
UE | BOOM and JBL Portable both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 48% of UE | BOOM's written reviews are positive against 39% of JBL Portable's. JBL Portable's advantage is chart position (#31 vs #138) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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
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 — 4.8 for UE | BOOM against 4.7 for JBL Portable. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 61K and 63K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 48% of UE | BOOM's written reviews are positive against 39% of JBL Portable's.
UE | BOOM ships an update every 2 months, JBL Portable every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.
| Parameter | UE | BOOM | JBL Portable |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (61K ratings) — better | 4.7 (63K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 47.5% of reviews — better | 39.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 61K | 63K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #138 | #31 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 213 MB | 159 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Logitech Inc. | Harman International Industries |
Customer experience
UE | BOOM
JBL Portable
User reviews
UE | BOOM
From 61K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Exceptional sound quality
- 🚀 Portable and waterproof
- 🚀 Ability to connect multiple speakers
- 👍 Great battery life
- 👍 Easy to use app
Room to improve
- 🐛 Connectivity issues with the app
- 🐛 Unreliable party up feature
- 🐛 App crashes and disconnects
- 🔋 Battery drains quickly when not in use
- 🔋 Charging issues
JBL Portable
From 63K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Customizable sound settings
- 🚀 Reliable Bluetooth connectivity
- 💡 Useful battery life indicator
- 👍 Sleek and durable design
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent connection issues
- 🐛 Unreliable stereo pairing
- 🐛 Slow app performance
- 🐛 Inconsistent firmware updates
- 🔋 Poor battery life
Bugs and requests
UE | BOOM
Reported bugs
4 issues- App unable to recognize or connect to speakers
- Inaccurate battery level reporting
- Remote power on/off feature not working
- Firmware update process is unreliable
Requested features
4 requests- Add Spotify support for one-touch playlists
- Implement dark mode in the app
- Allow custom EQ settings to be saved
- Add support for Wonderboom speakers
JBL Portable
Reported bugs
5 issues- App unable to detect connected speakers
- Stereo mode disconnects unexpectedly
- Firmware update process causes speaker issues
- Equalizer settings not saving properly
- Party Boost feature unreliable
Requested features
5 requests- Add remote power on/off
- Improve stereo mode stability
- Expand EQ customization options
- Provide better battery life reporting
- Support for older speaker models
In-app purchases
UE | BOOM
No in-app purchases
JBL Portable
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is UE | BOOM free?
Is JBL Portable free?
Which has better reviews, UE | BOOM or JBL Portable?
Do UE | BOOM or JBL Portable have ads?
Which is updated more often, UE | BOOM or JBL Portable?
Which is more popular, UE | BOOM or JBL Portable?
Other comparisons
