Comparison

Ruddarr vs Pipplee

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

Head to head
About

Ruddarr

Control your movie, documentary, and TV series collections remotely. Browse upcoming releases, manage your media library, and receive notifications. Customize the app's appearance and sync settings across devices.

Highlights
  • Manage movies and TV series
  • Browse upcoming releases calendar
  • Receive fine-grained notifications
  • View activity queue and history
  • Switch between multiple instances
  • Customize app appearance
  • Synchronize settings via iCloud
Features
Read full description

Ruddarr is a beautifully designed, open source, privacy-first companion app for Radarr and Sonarr instances. Manage your movies, documentaries and TV series from anywhere, anytime. Features: • Manage movies and TV series • Browse upcoming releases in the calendar • Receive fine-grained notifications • View activity queue tasks and history events • Switch between multiple instances • Customize the app color scheme and appearance • Synchronize settings/instances between devices (iCloud) • Automate actions using Siri Shortcuts • Connect to reverse proxies using custom HTTP headers • Use Spotlight search to quickly jump to media • Fully localized, ready to be translated Notifications require a subscription to Ruddarr+, because sending push notifications to devices requires reliable server infrastructure, which incurs monthly operating expenses for this free, open-source project. Alternatively, *arrs come with many notification integrations that can be self-hosted. Requirements: • Ruddarr does not provide any media and requires a Radarr or Sonarr instance to interact with. - - - Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Pipplee

Control and animate WLED-powered LED matrices without coding. Apply dynamic effects, display text and GIFs, and create custom playlists. Supports all rectangular matrix sizes with live previews and fine brightness control.

Highlights
  • Dynamic animations and effects
  • Live pixel editor
  • Animated text display
  • Image and GIF playback
  • Favorites and playlists
  • Clock mode
  • Smart layout support
Features
Read full description

Pipplee is the easiest way to control a WLED 2D LED matrix from your iPhone. Play animations, turn music into a light show, draw pixel art, scroll text, run arcade games and show live weather on your LED panel - no coding, no config files. WORKS WITH ANY WLED MATRIX 16x16, 32x32, 8x32, 24x16 or a custom layout - if WLED supports your 2D matrix, Pipplee fits content to it automatically. You need an ESP32 running WLED (ESP8266 and ESP32-C3 are not supported). GIF and image playback needs WLED 16.0.0 or newer. MUSIC VISUALIZER • Your matrix dances to whatever is playing, using your iPhone's microphone • 13 visualizers: Spectrum Bars, Mirror, Waveform, Bass Fire, Waterfall, Starburst, Radial and more • Colour gradients or a single colour, plus a sensitivity control • Smart beat detection that ignores steady background noise like fans • Music playing on your iPhone keeps playing while it listens • Keep it running in the background, or keep your screen on while it plays • Sound is analysed on your iPhone - nothing is recorded or sent anywhere ANIMATIONS & PIXEL ART • 1000+ ready-made animations and pixel art, searchable by category • Live pixel editor with instant preview on your LEDs • Upload your own GIFs and images • AI pixel art: describe it and Pipplee generates it for your matrix • 200+ built-in WLED effects with animated previews TEXT, CLOCK & LIVE INFO • Scrolling text with gradients, backgrounds and effects • Digital clock faces with animated backgrounds • Live local weather that updates on its own • Live sports scores, stock prices and a game-night scoreboard PLAY ARCADE GAMES ON YOUR LED MATRIX Snake, Blocks, Pong, Breakout, Flappy Bird, Space Invaders and Racing - play on your iPhone and watch it run on your LED matrix. CAMERA EFFECTS • Body Glow: your silhouette lights up on the matrix using your iPhone camera AUTOMATE EVERYTHING • Favorites and playlists for hands-free animation cycling • Schedule presets by time of day • Smart-home friendly: send messages to your matrix from your own scripts with the Pipplee API • Built-in WLED settings, so you never leave the app WHO IS PIPPLEE FOR? WLED users with an LED matrix, makers and DIY electronics fans, pixel artists, gamers, music lovers, and anyone who wants a glowing display for a desk, bedroom, game room or shop window. GET STARTED IN MINUTES 1. Flash WLED on an ESP32 and set up your LED matrix in 2D mode. 2. Connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network. 3. Open Pipplee, scan for devices and pick your matrix - you're playing in seconds. SIMPLE PRICING Free to try with limited plays. Unlock every feature with a yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime license. Each license covers one physical WLED device (one controller), and everyone in your home can use it. If you replace your controller, the new one needs its own license. The yearly subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment is charged to your Apple ID. Manage or cancel it in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Questions? pippleeapp@gmail.com | pipplee.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://pipplee.com/privacy/

Screenshots

Ruddarr4 screens
Pipplee4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ruddarr at 90% against Pipplee's 40%. Ruddarr also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (759 vs 5). Pipplee's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Ruddarr sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per year and Pipplee sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ruddarr holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ruddarr has 759 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Ruddarr's written reviews are positive against 40% of Pipplee's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ruddarr ships an update monthly, Pipplee every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Ruddarr versus Pipplee: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRuddarrPipplee
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (759 ratings) — better4.0 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews90.1% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings759 — better5
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB20 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperRuddarrBipul Jain

Customer experience

Ruddarr

All ratings750 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral0.7%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews222 reviews
Positive90.1%
Neutral2.7%
Negative7.2%

Pipplee

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

Bugs and requests

Ruddarr

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Fails with error when trying to add any service
  • Crashes and freezes all the time

Requested features

3 requests
  • Support one time purchase
  • List view not just posters
  • Latest releases or trending lists that could be pulled from trakt or IMDb

Pipplee

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Ruddarr

Subscriptions1
  • Ruddarr+$5.991 Year
7 purchases

Pipplee

Subscriptions1
  • Yearly Device License$4.991 Year
One-time6
  • Yearly License per WLED device2 variants$2.99
  • Lifetime Access$3.99
  • Yearly License per WLED device$4.99
Show 3 more
  • Lifetime Access for Device$9.99
  • Lifetime Access for Device$14.99
  • Lifetime Access for Device$19.99

Questions

Is Ruddarr free?
Ruddarr is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pipplee free?
Pipplee is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ruddarr or Pipplee?
Ruddarr is rated higher. Ruddarr averages 4.9 out of 5 from 759 ratings, while Pipplee averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Ruddarr or Pipplee have ads?
Neither Ruddarr nor Pipplee shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ruddarr or Pipplee?
Ruddarr ships an update monthly, and Pipplee every 2 days. Most recently, Ruddarr was updated on October 24, 2026 and Pipplee on October 24, 2026.

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