Comparison

Maou Console vs Aether

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

Head to head
About

Maou Console

Play your own RPG Maker games on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Import games via ZIP archives or Wi-Fi transfer, manage saves, and customize controls for a personalized gaming experience.

Highlights
  • Import RPG Maker MV/MZ/XP/VX/VX Ace projects
  • Wi-Fi transfer for game archives
  • Local and iCloud save management
  • Customizable controls and appearance
  • Personal game library
Features
Read full description

Make room for your next adventure. Maou Console brings your own RPG Maker projects to iPhone, iPad and Mac, with a personal game library and practical tools for importing games and managing saves. YOUR PERSONAL LIBRARY Import supported ZIP, 7z and RAR archives or choose a project from your files. Keep your games together and return to the story when you are ready. PLAY YOUR OWN GAMES Run RPG Maker MV and MZ projects, plus supported XP, VX and VX Ace projects. On iPhone, automatic landscape makes it easy to settle into gameplay; change this preference in Controls. TRANSLATE YOUR GAMES Make more RPG Maker stories readable in your language. Maou's per-game Translation Manager can discover bundled catalogs, import JSON or MT translation files, extract source text, edit entries, export catalogs, and enable or disable translations without changing the original game files. TRANSFER FROM YOUR BROWSER Open Wi-Fi Transfer in Maou Console, then visit its address in a browser on another device on the same network. Upload game archives or recognized official XP/VX/VX Ace RTP archives without a cable. KEEP YOUR PROGRESS CLOSE Manage saves for each game. Import, export, back up and restore local saves. Optional iCloud save sync uses your own iCloud account. Games and RTP are not included. Import only content you have permission to use. Compatibility varies by project and plugins.

About

Aether

Features
Read full description

Aether: Versatile Media Player Aether is a versatile media player designed for local content, combining video playback, subtitle support, and visual novel functionality in one app. Simply import your media files, and Aether will automatically identify supported content. No complicated conversion or setup is required, so you can focus on watching videos, displaying subtitles, and enjoying your favorite visual novels. Extensive Media Format Support Built with FFmpeg 8.1.2, Aether supports a wide range of commonly used video, audio, and subtitle formats. Supported video codecs include: H.264, H.265/HEVC, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VP8, VP9, AV1, Theora, WMV/VC-1, MJPEG, ProRes, and more. Supported audio codecs include: AAC, MP2, MP3, AC-3, E-AC-3, FLAC, Vorbis, Opus, WMA, PCM, and more. Supported subtitle formats include: • External subtitles: SRT, VTT, ASS, and SSA • Embedded subtitles: ASS/SSA, SubRip, WebVTT, MOV Text, and other text-based formats After a video is imported, Aether automatically detects available audio and subtitle tracks, allowing you to select the track you prefer. Flexible Playback Controls Adjust playback to match your viewing preferences: • Change the playback speed • Drag the progress bar to jump to a specific position • Quickly seek forward or backward • Pause and resume playback at any time Whether you are quickly reviewing content, replaying a favorite moment, or locating a particular scene, Aether makes navigation simple. Verified Playback Configurations The following configurations have been tested: • MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio at 1920 × 1080 • MKV with 10-bit H.265 video and AAC audio at 1920 × 1080, including embedded ASS subtitles • MPEG-1 video with MP2 audio used within visual novel content Additional formats and codec combinations may also work. Compatibility may vary depending on the container format, encoding parameters, and device performance. Easily Import Visual Novels Aether includes a visual novel runtime compatible with XP3 content. Import visual novel content that you legally own and launch it directly from your library with a single tap. There is no need to repeatedly locate files or perform complicated manual configuration, allowing you to focus on the story and gameplay. Manage Local Content in One Place View and manage imported videos and visual novels from a single library. Open a title’s details and quickly continue watching or playing. Aether does not include or provide any third-party movies, games, or visual novel content. Users must import their own content and ensure that they have the legal right to use it. Compatibility Notice Some visual novels may use custom plug-ins, encryption methods, or specialized scripts. Therefore, compatibility with every XP3 title cannot be guaranteed. Video playback may also vary depending on encoding settings, device model, and operating system version.

Screenshots

Maou Console4 screens
Aether4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Maou Console at none against Aether's 2. On price, update cadence, 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. Aether sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Maou Console asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Maou Console ships an update every 10 days, Aether weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Maou Console versus Aether: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMaou ConsoleAether
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size110 MB221 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperYiwen Li煜 刘

In-app purchases

None

Maou Console

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Aether

One-time2
  • Buy the author a coffee$0.99
  • Unlock Directory Restrictions$7.99

Questions

Is Maou Console free?
Maou Console is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Aether free?
Aether is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Maou Console or Aether have ads?
Neither Maou Console nor Aether shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Maou Console or Aether?
Maou Console ships an update every 10 days, and Aether weekly. Most recently, Maou Console was updated on October 2, 2026 and Aether on October 1, 2026.

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