Comparison

DNS Sinkhole vs CodecPlayer

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

Head to head
About

DNS Sinkhole

Features
Read full description

Choose encrypted DNS without replacing your VPN. Sinkhole helps you understand, select, and configure a trusted DNS-over-HTTPS provider on iPhone and iPad. It adds an encrypted DNS configuration for the provider you choose, using the system API iOS provides for this. SIMPLE GUIDED SETUP Choose your goal โ€” privacy and security, family protection, or advanced custom DNS โ€” then follow clear installation steps designed for everyone. CURATED PROVIDERS Compare privacy and security-focused options from established public DNS providers. Depending on your selection, provider-side filtering may cover known malware, phishing, trackers, ads, or adult content. ADVANCED MODE Use a trusted custom HTTPS DNS endpoint from a service you control or configure, including compatible self-hosted resolvers. HONEST STATUS Sinkhole reads its own state from iOS: whether a configuration exists, and whether iOS has it active. It also sends a single DNS test request to confirm the selected endpoint is reachable, and keeps that separate from activation. PRIVACY BY DESIGN โ€ข No Sinkhole account โ€ข No LorisLabs DNS server โ€ข No VPN tunnel and no VPN configuration โ€ข No advertising or analytics SDK โ€ข No DNS query or browsing history received by Sinkhole Once active, DNS requests go directly from your device to the provider you selected. That provider's privacy policy and filtering behavior apply. Sinkhole cannot see or fabricate per-domain statistics. IMPORTANT iOS asks for your approval before Sinkhole can add a DNS configuration, and only you can select it in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > DNS. You can switch away or remove it there at any time, without the app. A VPN may choose to override system DNS settings; behavior depends on that VPN.

About

CodecPlayer

Features
Read full description

CodecPlayer is a focused local video player for iPhone and iPad. Open videos from Files or Photos and keep them organized in a persistent playlist. PLAY MORE FORMATS Use native playback for iOS formats and VLC-powered playback for formats such as MKV, AVI, FLV, and WebM. BUILT FOR LONG WATCHING CodecPlayer remembers your position, highlights your most recently played video, and continues through the playlist in order. Reorder videos any time with drag and drop. COMFORTABLE CONTROLS Double-tap to seek, swipe horizontally to scrub, adjust brightness on the left and system volume on the right, or press and hold for temporary 2ร— playback. Switch between fit and fill, use embedded subtitles, and play in full screen or Picture in Picture. LOCAL-FIRST Your videos stay on your device. Files are referenced in place whenever possible, without creating unnecessary duplicate copies. CodecPlayer does not require an account.

Screenshots

DNS Sinkhole4 screens
CodecPlayer4 screens

Verdict

The call

DNS Sinkhole and CodecPlayer are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters โ€” price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them โ€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
DNS Sinkhole versus CodecPlayer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDNS SinkholeCodecPlayer
PriceFreeFree
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size4 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristine MartinHao Xiong

In-app purchases

None

DNS Sinkhole

No in-app purchases

None

CodecPlayer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DNS Sinkhole free?
DNS Sinkhole is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CodecPlayer free?
CodecPlayer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do DNS Sinkhole or CodecPlayer have ads?
Neither DNS Sinkhole nor CodecPlayer shows ads.

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