# CastFlow vs Hawk Player

The clearest difference is price: CastFlow at $0.99 against Hawk Player's $17.99. CastFlow also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5). Hawk Player's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 26 months). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

CastFlow costs $0.99 and Hawk Player $17.99 up front. Hawk Player sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. CastFlow asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hawk Player holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 22 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of CastFlow's written reviews are positive against 100% of Hawk Player's.

CastFlow ships an update every 26 months, Hawk Player every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 9, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | CastFlow | Hawk Player |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $17.99 |
| Rating | [3.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/castflow/id6448221325/reviews) | **[4.6 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hawk-player/id6742471800/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **22** |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 26 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 75 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **18.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [辉 邓](https://appshunter.io/developer/1683717989) | [JinShan Qu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1272548255) |

## What reviewers say

### CastFlow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/castflow/id6448221325)

Stream media from various platforms to your device using DLNA protocol. Supports a wide range of media formats for seamless playback.

**Highlights:** DLNA streaming, Cross-device casting, Wide media format support, Seamless playback

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hawk Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hawk-player/id6742471800)

Experience high-performance video playback with crystal-clear visuals and fast seeking. This media player offers precise control and a lightweight experience, perfect for users who value speed and accuracy. It also supports custom plugins and VOD protocols.

**Highlights:** High-performance video playback, Crystal-clear visuals, Lightning-fast seeking, Precise control, Lightweight experience, Pluggable architecture for custom plugins, VOD protocol support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $0.99 | per month |
| Annual Premium | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $12.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $14.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $17.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CastFlow free?

CastFlow costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hawk Player free?

Hawk Player costs $17.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CastFlow or Hawk Player?

Hawk Player is rated higher. CastFlow averages 3.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Hawk Player averages 4.6 from 22 ratings.

### Do CastFlow or Hawk Player have ads?

Neither CastFlow nor Hawk Player shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CastFlow or Hawk Player?

CastFlow ships an update every 26 months, and Hawk Player every 4 weeks. Most recently, CastFlow was updated on October 9, 2026 and Hawk Player on October 9, 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.*