Comparison

Cathode Player vs zoop

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

zoop

A podcast player designed for simplicity and ease of use. It offers a clean interface, unique playback controls, and organizational tools like folders. Supports private RSS feeds and iCloud sync for a seamless listening experience across devices.

Highlights
  • Simple list view of shows
  • Record-style player with scrub-to-seek
  • Folders for podcast organization
  • Private/premium RSS feed support
  • OPML subscription import
  • iCloud sync across devices
Features
Read full description

Zoop is a podcast app made with me in mind: simple, podcast forward, and free with features others lock behind a paywall. A clean list of your shows. A record-player-style playback screen that turns as you listen, and you can turn to seek or hold to pause. Folders to keep things organized. And support for private RSS feeds, so your premium subscriptions live right alongside everything else. FEATURES • Simple list view of all your shows • Record-style player with scrub-to-seek • Folders to group your podcasts • Private / premium RSS feed support • Import your subscriptions via OPML • Custom app icons and per-podcast colors • iCloud sync — your library follows you across devices https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ (I will not apologize about the name)

Screenshots

Cathode Player3 screens
zoop4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: zoop at 5.0 against Cathode Player's 4.2. zoop also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 75%) and iOS requirement (18 vs 26.1). Cathode Player's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. zoop sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Cathode Player asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

zoop holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Cathode Player's written reviews are positive against 100% of zoop's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Cathode Player versus zoop: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCathode Playerzoop
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (5 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.118 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZabir RaihanJonathan Kearns

Customer experience

Cathode Player

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

zoop

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Cathode Player

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

zoop

Subscriptions6
  • Monthly Small$1.991 Month
  • Monthly Medium$4.991 Month
  • Monthly Large$9.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Yearly Small$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Medium$49.991 Year
  • Yearly Large$99.991 Year
One-time3
  • Small$1.99
  • Medum$4.99
  • Large$9.99

Questions

Is Cathode Player free?
Cathode Player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is zoop free?
zoop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Cathode Player or zoop?
zoop is rated higher. Cathode Player averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while zoop averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Cathode Player or zoop have ads?
Neither Cathode Player nor zoop shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cathode Player or zoop?
Cathode Player ships an update every 5 days, and zoop every 5 days. Most recently, Cathode Player was updated on November 5, 2026 and zoop on November 6, 2026.

Other comparisons