Comparison

Cathode Player vs ZoyaSafe

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

Head to head
About

Cathode Player

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
Read full description

Cathode is a clean, native video viewer for following channels and watching content on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Built with SwiftUI for a fast, lightweight experience. FEATURES • Follow channels and see all their latest videos in one feed • Search for videos and channels • Watch shorts and regular videos with a native player • Picture-in-picture, background audio, and AirPlay support • Save videos to Watch Later • Pick up where you left off — playback progress syncs across your devices via your private iCloud account • Read comments • Compact mini-player while you keep browsing • Curated channel suggestions across Tech, Science, Programming, Cooking, and Lifestyle to help you get started CROSS-DEVICE SYNC Watch Later, history, and saved channels are stored in your private iCloud account so they are always with you. Nothing is sent to our servers. PRIVACY Cathode does not collect personal information, has no analytics, and does not require an account. Your data stays on your device or in your private iCloud.

About

ZoyaSafe

Features
Read full description

Your child taps "just one video." Twenty minutes later, autoplay has carried them three recommendations away from anything you'd have picked, and you have no idea what they're watching now. This isn't bad luck - YouTube®'s algorithm is built to keep playing, not to keep your child safe. ZoyaSafe removes the algorithm from the equation. You choose every channel your child is allowed to see, one at a time. Not a "kids" filter. Not a content category. Not YouTube® deciding what counts as appropriate - you do. Once it's locked in, there's no way out. Your child can't search, can't tap a suggested video, and can't back their way into regular YouTube®. There's no menu that leads anywhere else - just the channels you picked, in a player with everything else stripped away. HOW IT WORKS Build a separate channel whitelist for each child profile. Kids see only videos from those channels - no search bar, no recommendations, no "Up Next" surprises. ZoyaSafe's own player replaces YouTube®'s standard interface, removing search, recommendations, and navigation entirely. To open parent settings or exit the app, a parent solves a math quiz gate. With iOS Guided Access enabled (set up in under a minute on first launch), the phone itself locks to ZoyaSafe - no Home button, no App Store, no browser, until a parent unlocks it. FEATURES Channel whitelist per child profile - add only the channels you trust Full-screen player with search, recommendations, and navigation removed Math quiz parental gate - no PIN to forget, no pattern to spy on Multiple child profiles with custom avatars and colours Organise channels by category - Science, Art, Nature, Math, and more Language-based channel filtering - perfect for bilingual families iOS Guided Access integration for system-level app lockdown GUIDED ACCESS ZoyaSafe uses iOS Guided Access to prevent children from switching apps, using the Home button, or accessing Control Centre. Setup takes under a minute and is guided on first launch. This is the core safety layer that keeps your child inside the app. PARENTAL GATE Parent access is protected by a randomised math quiz rather than a PIN - because children watch parents type PINs, but can't easily solve arithmetic on the spot. SUBSCRIPTION ZoyaSafe is free for 30 days. After your trial, a subscription keeps your child's walled garden active. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription automatically renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscription in your Apple ID account settings after purchase. PRIVACY ZoyaSafe does not collect personal information from children. There are no accounts, no sign-ups, and no data shared with third parties for advertising. Video playback uses YouTube®'s privacy-enhanced embed mode. ZoyaSafe embeds YouTube® content using Google's official YouTube Data API v3 and IFrame Player API. YouTube® may display pre-roll advertisements within embedded videos. ZoyaSafe does not control or benefit from these advertisements. Privacy Policy: https://zoyasafe.com/privacy/ Terms of Service: https://zoyasafe.com/terms/

Screenshots

Cathode Player3 screens
ZoyaSafe4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cathode Player at none against ZoyaSafe's 2. ZoyaSafe's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.1). On price, ads and device support 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. ZoyaSafe sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Cathode Player asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Cathode Player versus ZoyaSafe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCathode PlayerZoyaSafe
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS26.115.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZabir RaihanWasim Rahman

In-app purchases

None

Cathode Player

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

ZoyaSafe

Subscriptions2
  • Zoyasafe Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Zoyasafe Annual$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Cathode Player free?
Cathode Player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ZoyaSafe free?
ZoyaSafe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Cathode Player or ZoyaSafe have ads?
Neither Cathode Player nor ZoyaSafe shows ads.

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