Comparison

HLS Player vs sked

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

Head to head
About

HLS Player

Features
Read full description

『 Experience Flawless Live & VOD Streaming 』 Are you tired of buffering and low-quality playback when trying to watch your favorite HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) content or M3U8 video streams? The HLS Player app is your ultimate solution for smooth, high-quality video playback on your device. Designed for both live streams and Video-on-Demand (VOD), our powerful adaptive video player ensures you get the best viewing experience, regardless of your network conditions. 『 Key Features & Benefits 』 ① Comprehensive HLS & M3U8 Compatibility - Plays all types of HLS streams seamlessly, from basic .m3u8 playlists to complex multi-bitrate adaptive streams. - Fully supports M3U8 playlist files, allowing you to stream content from various sources, including network URLs, local files, and web links. - Compatible with standard video codecs (H.264, H.265/HEVC) and audio codecs (AAC, MP3). ② Smooth & Adaptive Streaming Technology - Adaptive Bitrate Streaming: Our intelligent player automatically adjusts the video quality in real-time based on your internet speed, minimizing buffering and ensuring uninterrupted playback for all your HLS and M3U8 videos. - Rapid Loading: Experience fast stream initialization and quick content loading, so you can jump straight into watching your desired video streams without frustrating delays. - Hardware Acceleration: Leverages your device's hardware for efficient video decoding, resulting in smoother performance and reduced battery consumption, even for high-resolution HLS streams. ③ Flexible Content Input & Management - Direct URL Playback: Simply paste any HLS M3U8 URL or other network video link to start streaming instantly. - Recent History: Automatically saves your recently played HLS and M3U8 streams for quick access. - Custom Playlists: Create and organize your own custom lists of favorite HLS streams for personalized access. ④ Intuitive User Interface & Advanced Controls - Clean and User-Friendly Design: Enjoy a simple and intuitive interface that makes navigating and controlling your HLS videos effortless for everyone. - Full-Screen Immersion: Immerse yourself in your streaming content with a dedicated full-screen viewing mode. - Playback Speed Adjustment: Customize your viewing experience by controlling the playback speed of your HLS M3U8 streams. ⑤ Secure & Reliable Connection - HTTPS Support: Our player supports secure HTTPS connections, ensuring your video streams are protected. - Proxy Compatibility: If your network setup requires it, our player can connect via a proxy server. 『 Must-Have for 』 • Users who frequently watch live HLS streams (e.g., IPTV, sports events, news channels). • Anyone needing a dedicated and reliable M3U8 player for various online video content. • Developers or quality assurance testers who need to efficiently check HLS stream functionality. • Individuals looking for a versatile and high-performance video player that excels in adaptive streaming. • Users experiencing constant buffering issues with other standard video players. Download the HLS Player now and transform your mobile video watching experience. Enjoy flawless HLS and M3U8 playback with ultimate smoothness, speed, and quality!

About

sked

Easily share class schedules with student groups and see when blockmates are available. Quickly join or create groups, add class details, and check real-time availability without constant chat notifications.

Highlights
  • Join or start groups
  • Add class details
  • See real-time availability
  • Configurable visibility
  • Optional Pro subscription
Features
Read full description

sked helps student groups share class schedules and see when blockmates are free. Join a group with a code from your GC, add your weekly class blocks, and check who's free right now — without pinging the chat. • Join or start a group in seconds • Add subjects, rooms, and class times • See who's free right now in your group • Choose full detail or busy/free visibility per group • Optional sked Pro (annual) — more groups and Pro group papers, with a 7-day trial Built for college blocks, thesis groups, orgs, and friends. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

HLS Player4 screens
sked4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HLS Player at none against sked's 1. HLS Player also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). sked's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. sked sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. HLS Player asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HLS Player ships an update every 6 weeks, sked every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
HLS Player versus sked: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHLS Playersked
PriceFreeFree
Rating—1.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCHANG DEOK KIMMARK RAPHAEL STO. DOMINGO

In-app purchases

None

HLS Player

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

sked

Subscriptions1
  • sked Pro7 Days trial$4.991 Year

Questions

Is HLS Player free?
HLS Player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is sked free?
sked is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HLS Player or sked have ads?
HLS Player shows ads; sked does not.
Which is updated more often, HLS Player or sked?
HLS Player ships an update every 6 weeks, and sked every 3 weeks. Most recently, HLS Player was updated on October 30, 2026 and sked on October 25, 2026.

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