Comparison

Bref Player vs Aurora Remote

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

Head to head
About

Bref Player

Consolidate your video, music, and book collections across various devices. Access local files, cloud storage, and media servers to enjoy your owned media with extensive format support and advanced playback features.

Highlights
  • Unified media library
  • Support for numerous video and audio formats
  • Connect to local files, NAS, cloud drives, and media servers
  • Offline downloads for viewing
  • Advanced subtitle support
  • Casting and IPTV playlist support
  • Organized library with artwork and playback progress
Features
Read full description

Your media, ready for every screen. Bref brings video, music and books together on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. Connect your local files, NAS, cloud drives and media servers, and enjoy the collection you already own. APPLE TV: SWIPE TO SEEK Slide left or right on the Siri Remote touch surface to scrub continuously, with time and frame previews. Release to seek while preserving the prior playing or paused state. VIDEO FORMATS Play MKV, MP4, MOV, M4V, AVI, WMV, ASF, FLV, WebM, RM / RMVB, MPEG / MPG, TS, MTS / M2TS, VOB, MXF, OGM / OGV, 3GP / 3G2, DVR-MS and WTV. Supported codecs include H.264 / AVC, H.265 / HEVC, AV1, VP9, VC-1 and MPEG. Open main features from BDMV and VIDEO_TS folders or ISO / IMG disc images, and resolve STRM / STRMLNK media links. PICTURE QUALITY Enjoy 4K video and HDR10, HLG or Dolby Vision playback on compatible devices, with hardware and software decoding paths. Compatible Apple TV setups can request a display mode that matches the content frame rate. YOUR SOURCES Access local files, SMB, NFS, WebDAV, FTP, FTPES, FTPS, SFTP and UPnP / DLNA. Connect Jellyfin, Emby, Plex, Feiniu Video, Baidu Netdisk, 115, Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive on supported platforms. CASTING AND IPTV Cast video or music to Apple TV via UPnP / DLNA. Add M3U / M3U8 playlist URLs. DOLBY AUDIO AND MULTICHANNEL SOUND Play Dolby Digital (AC-3) and Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3) audio, and decode TrueHD and DTS / DTS-HD tracks. Switch audio tracks, use multichannel PCM output or stereo downmix, and enjoy 5.1 or 7.1 content with compatible output devices. AC-3 / E-AC-3 can also use the system compressed-audio output path, subject to the device, operating system and audio connection. MUSIC FORMATS Play MP3, AAC, M4A, FLAC, ALAC, APE, WAV, OGG, Opus and WMA, plus AC-3, E-AC-3, DTS / DTS-HD and MLP / TrueHD audio. Browse artwork and song information, follow available synchronized lyrics, and use playlists, shuffle and repeat playback. On iPhone and iPad, listen in the background and control music from the Lock Screen or Control Center. SUBTITLES AND BILINGUAL VIEWING Read SRT, ASS / SSA, WebVTT, TTML / DFXP, SAMI / SMI, MicroDVD and MPL2 text subtitles, plus PGS / SUP and VobSub (IDX / SUB) image subtitles. Choose embedded tracks, discover nearby files or import and associate subtitles manually. Adjust subtitle timing and display two subtitles together with compatible text-track combinations. AN ORGANIZED LIBRARY Match videos with artwork, descriptions and episode information. Manage favorites and watched status, save playback progress and return to recently played items. Create custom video collections across sources without moving the original files. OFFLINE DOWNLOADS Download supported videos for offline viewing. Pause and resume range-based downloads when the source is accessible. Add compatible HTTP / HTTPS video download links on iPhone, iPad and Mac. PREVIEWS AND CHAPTERS Preview the timeline and navigate supported disc titles and chapters. CACHE CONTROLS Use read-ahead and disk caching for network video. Adjust preload capacity, view cache usage and clear video or artwork caches. CROSS-DEVICE ACCESS AND ICLOUD Restore eligible purchases with the same Apple Account on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. Sync supported source settings, playback progress and recently played records through iCloud. Enjoy controls adapted to touch, keyboard, pointer and the Siri Remote. BOOKS, TOO Connect an OPDS source to read EPUB and PDF books on supported platforms. PLEASE NOTE Bref does not supply movies, third-party service memberships or decryption of protected content. Add media you own or are authorized to access. Available features and purchase options are shown in the app. Source, format and output support depend on the platform, operating system, media file and equipment. Network playback and sync require suitable services and connectivity. Privacy Policy: https://www.bref.cn/privacy/ Support: https://www.bref.cn/support/

About

Aurora Remote

Control your Mac or Windows PC from your iPhone. Access apps, edit files, and use custom shortcuts with intuitive touch controls and high-performance streaming.

Highlights
  • Connect to Mac and Windows PCs
  • Customizable keyboard shortcuts
  • Intuitive mouse and touch controls
  • High-performance Mac access
  • Remote audio streaming
  • Picture-in-Picture mode
Features
Read full description

Your Mac and Windows PC, right on your iPhone. Aurora Remote brings your desktop to your phone with intuitive controls, remote audio, and keyboard shortcuts tailored to the way you work. Open desktop apps, make a quick edit, or check on a task—all from your iPhone. CONNECT TO MAC AND WINDOWS • Access your Mac through macOS Screen Sharing. • Connect to Windows through its built-in Remote Desktop service (RDP), with no VNC server installation required. • Discover Mac and Windows computers on your local network, or add a computer manually using its IP address or hostname. • Save and favorite multiple computers, with separate connection settings for each device. • Store saved passwords in the iPhone Keychain. YOUR SHORTCUTS, WITHIN REACH • Create, name, edit, and reorder custom keyboard shortcuts. • Keep separate shortcut collections for Mac and Windows. • Use Command, Option, Control, and Shift on Mac, or Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and Win on Windows. • Combine modifiers with letters, numbers, function keys, arrow keys, and more. • Access your saved shortcuts from a floating shortcut wheel during a remote session. NATURAL DESKTOP CONTROL • Switch between mouse and direct-touch modes. • Click, right-click, drag, and scroll. • Enter text and use essential keys such as Return, Tab, Escape, and Delete. • Adjust mouse wheel speed to suit your workflow. • Receive text copied on your Mac through supported screen-sharing connections. HIGH-PERFORMANCE MAC ACCESS On compatible Macs, Pro adds a high-performance viewing experience: • HEVC video with H.264 fallback for compatibility. • Hardware-accelerated video decoding on iPhone. • Frame rates up to 60 FPS. • Adjustable resolution and frame rate. • HiDPI options and a desktop layout sized to fit your phone. • Remote audio from your Mac. REMOTE AUDIO AND MULTITASKING • Hear Windows desktop audio through supported RDP sessions. • Use Pro Picture in Picture to keep watching your remote desktop while using another app. • Picture in Picture is view-only; return to Aurora Remote to control your computer. MADE FOR IPHONE • Portrait and landscape support. • Dark mode. • Convenient floating controls for remote input and shortcuts. PRO OPTIONS Try Pro features for up to 15 minutes each day. Unlock continued access with a monthly subscription or a one-time purchase. Mac high-performance mode, Mac remote audio, and Picture in Picture are Pro features. Windows RDP and Windows remote audio do not require Pro. CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS Mac connections require Screen Sharing to be enabled. High-performance mode requires a compatible Mac, macOS version, and network environment. Windows connections require Remote Desktop to be enabled on Windows Pro, Enterprise, Education, or Windows Server. Windows Home cannot host built-in Remote Desktop. Sign in with your Windows account password, not your Windows Hello PIN. Windows clipboard transfer and RD Gateway are not currently supported. Use a trusted local network, VPN, or secure tunnel. Standard VNC password authentication does not encrypt the desktop session; do not expose TCP port 5900 directly to the public internet. Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Bref Player4 screens
Aurora Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Bref Player at daily against Aurora Remote's fortnightly. Bref Player also leads on device support (5 vs 1) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment 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. Bref Player sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Aurora Remote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Bref Player against 5.0 for Aurora Remote. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bref Player ships an update daily, Aurora Remote fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Bref Player versus Aurora Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBref PlayerAurora Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyDaily — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB18 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperHatch Co., Ltd宇丰 麦

Customer experience

Bref Player

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Aurora Remote

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Bref Player

Subscriptions1
  • Bref Pro Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Bref Pro$9.99
2 purchases

Aurora Remote

Subscriptions1
  • Pro Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime Unlock$9.99

Questions

Is Bref Player free?
Bref Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aurora Remote free?
Aurora Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bref Player or Aurora Remote?
Bref Player and Aurora Remote are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Bref Player or Aurora Remote have ads?
Neither Bref Player nor Aurora Remote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bref Player or Aurora Remote?
Bref Player ships an update daily, and Aurora Remote fortnightly. Most recently, Bref Player was updated on October 9, 2026 and Aurora Remote on October 14, 2026.

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