Comparison

CastFlow vs MetalPlayer

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

Head to head
About

CastFlow

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
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CastFlow is a family-friendly home media hub that spans iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. Cast from your phone, stream IPTV, browse Jellyfin, or open files on your NAS — all on your own network, no account needed. Cast anything to the living room Turn CastFlow into a DLNA / UPnP receiver. Push a video, a song, or a photo from any phone, tablet, PC or NAS with one tap and it lands on the big screen. IPTV that feels like TV Import M3U playlists or Xtream Codes accounts. Browse categories, follow the EPG, and enjoy time‑shifted playback in a clean, native player. Jellyfin & Emby, feel‑native Sign in once and get Continue Watching, Recently Added, seasons, episodes, and multi‑audio / multi‑subtitle tracks. It behaves like a first‑party client, not a browser wrapper. SMB & WebDAV Connect directly to your NAS, home server, or WebDAV drive. Browse folders, preview posters, and play files without preloading or transcoding. Danmaku overlay Turn on scrolling live‑comment overlays for supported casting sources — perfect for anime nights and shared watch parties. MPV‑powered playback Hardware decoding for H.264, HEVC and AV1. Full support for SRT, ASS/SSA and PGS subtitles, external audio tracks, per‑track speed and pitch control. Continue Watching, everywhere Resume points sync across sources and devices, so you can jump from the couch to the bedroom without losing your spot. Local‑first, private by default No account. No cloud database. No tracking. CastFlow does not upload your library metadata anywhere. Your media stays on your local network. One app across the family iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV — add a source once and it's ready on every device. CastFlow adapts to each screen: a receiver on the TV, a browser on your Mac, a remote in your pocket. Made for – NAS owners who want their library on every screen – IPTV fans who want a clean native player instead of a browser tab – Cord‑cutters running Jellyfin or Emby at home – Anyone who wants phone, computer and NAS content to just appear on the Apple TV Add a source, hit play, and let the media flow. Support: https://tinuv.me/castflow/ Privacy: https://tinuv.me/castflow/privacy.html

About

MetalPlayer

This app enhances your personal video collection with AI-powered frame generation for smoother motion and upscaling for improved clarity. It supports local and network playback, offering advanced features for a premium viewing experience on compatible Apple devices.

Highlights
  • AI frame generation for smoother motion
  • Video upscaling for improved clarity
  • 120Hz display optimization
  • Local and network playback support
  • External subtitle support
  • HDR tone mapping
Features
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MetalPlayer is an AI-powered local and network video player designed for users who want smoother playback, high-quality rendering, and advanced video enhancement for their own media files. Built for Apple silicon, MetalPlayer uses optimized AI frame generation to create smoother motion for supported videos. It is designed to reduce the motion artifacts commonly seen in traditional frame interpolation, making anime, films, and high-frame-rate playback feel more natural and fluid. Key Features: AI Frame Generation Generate intermediate frames with an optimized neural-network pipeline for smoother motion playback. 120Hz Display Optimization Designed to work well with high-refresh-rate iPhone and iPad displays for smooth, evenly paced playback. Video Upscaling Improve the clarity of lower-resolution and anime content with Metal-accelerated upscaling pipelines. Local & Network Playback Play your own media files from local storage or network sources, including WebDAV, SMB, FTP, SFTP, and NFS. Advanced Playback Engine Includes external subtitle support, HDR tone mapping, and hardware-accelerated video decoding where available. Performance Note: AI frame generation requires significant processing power. For the best experience, Apple A15 Bionic, M1, or newer devices are recommended. Extended AI-enhanced playback may increase device temperature, so good ventilation is recommended for long viewing sessions. MetalPlayer does not provide, host, stream, sell, or distribute any video content. Users must provide their own media files.

Screenshots

CastFlow4 screens
MetalPlayer3 screens

Verdict

The call

CastFlow and MetalPlayer both sit at 3.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of CastFlow's written reviews are positive against 0% of MetalPlayer's. CastFlow also leads on price ($0.99 vs $4.99) and ratings volume (8 vs 1). MetalPlayer's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 26 months) and chart position (#183 vs unranked). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CastFlow costs $0.99 and MetalPlayer $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.0 for CastFlow against 3.0 for MetalPlayer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CastFlow has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of CastFlow's written reviews are positive against 0% of MetalPlayer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CastFlow ships an update every 26 months, MetalPlayer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
CastFlow versus MetalPlayer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCastFlowMetalPlayer
Price$0.99 — better$4.99
Rating3.0 (8 ratings)3.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings8 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 26 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#183 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB176 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer辉 邓鹏 王

Customer experience

CastFlow

All ratings8 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

MetalPlayer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

CastFlow

No in-app purchases

None

MetalPlayer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CastFlow free?
CastFlow costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MetalPlayer free?
MetalPlayer costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CastFlow or MetalPlayer?
CastFlow and MetalPlayer are both rated 3.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 8 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do CastFlow or MetalPlayer have ads?
Neither CastFlow nor MetalPlayer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CastFlow or MetalPlayer?
CastFlow ships an update every 26 months, and MetalPlayer fortnightly. Most recently, CastFlow was updated on October 9, 2026 and MetalPlayer on October 13, 2026.

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