# Cathode Player vs Mira

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cathode Player at none against Mira's 3. Mira's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mira sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Cathode Player asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mira holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mira has 26 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Cathode Player's written reviews are positive against 71% of Mira's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Cathode Player ships an update weekly, Mira every 3 days. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cathode Player | Mira |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cathode-player/id6765878641/reviews) | **[4.5 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mira-focused-video-player/id6767721654/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **26** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 70.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 8 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.1 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Zabir Raihan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890301412) | [Hershkovitz Bros LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1736034524) |

## What reviewers say

### Cathode Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cathode-player/id6765878641)

A native video viewer for following channels and watching content across your Apple devices. Enjoy a fast, lightweight experience with features like picture-in-picture, background audio, and cross-device sync via iCloud. Discover new content with curated channel suggestions.

**Highlights:** Follow channels and view latest videos, Search for videos and channels, Native player with picture-in-picture and background audio, Save videos to Watch Later, Cross-device playback progress sync, Curated channel suggestions

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mira

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mira-focused-video-player/id6767721654)

This app enhances your video watching experience by automatically skipping unwanted segments like ads and intros. It offers AI-powered summaries, searchable transcripts, and synchronized viewing with friends, all while reducing visual distractions.

**Highlights:** Automatic sponsor and intro skipping, AI-powered video summaries, Searchable video transcripts, Synchronized group watching, Background audio playback, Customizable playback speed, Focus mode to reduce distractions

**Features:** Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mira Premium Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Mira Premium Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Mira Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cathode Player free?

Cathode Player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mira free?

Mira is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Cathode Player or Mira?

Mira is rated higher. Cathode Player averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Mira averages 4.5 from 26 ratings.

### Do Cathode Player or Mira have ads?

Neither Cathode Player nor Mira shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cathode Player or Mira?

Cathode Player ships an update weekly, and Mira every 3 days. Most recently, Cathode Player was updated on November 9, 2026 and Mira on November 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.*