Comparison

Playfyn vs Portage

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

Head to head
About

Playfyn

This app provides a seamless media playback experience for your personal Jellyfin server. Enjoy high-quality streaming, automatic skipping of intros and credits, and a beautifully organized library across your Apple devices. It prioritizes privacy with no user tracking.

Highlights
  • 4K HDR10 and Dolby Vision passthrough
  • Automatic intro and credits skipping
  • Continuous playback and resume
  • Picture in Picture and AirPlay support
  • iPad multitasking features
  • Private by design, no tracking
Features
Read full description

Playfyn is a beautiful, fast client for your own Jellyfin media server — built for people who care how their library looks and plays. Point it at your server, sign in, and your movies and shows are ready on Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad. PLAYBACK THAT RESPECTS YOUR FILES • Full-quality 4K HDR10 and Dolby Vision passthrough — your files play as they were mastered, not re-encoded • MKV and more play seamlessly; when a transcode is genuinely needed, Playfyn degrades gracefully and automatically • Surround audio (Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus) with smart track selection that keeps quality high • Automatic intro and credits skipping (with the Intro Skipper plugin) • Continuous playback, resume anywhere, and an Up Next row that keeps your place across devices MADE FOR EVERY SCREEN • Apple TV: a fast, focus-driven interface designed for the big screen, with a Top Shelf and light/dark looks • iPhone and iPad: Picture in Picture, AirPlay, background audio with full lock-screen controls, and cellular data protection that caps streaming quality on the go • iPad multitasking: Split View, Slide Over, and Stage Manager YOUR LIBRARY, YOUR WAY • A rich home screen with a featured carousel, Up Next, favorites, and recently added • Powerful library browsing: filter by genre or resolution, sort your way, search everything • Playback stats HUD for the curious: live codec, bitrate, and resolution info PRIVATE BY DESIGN Playfyn talks only to your Jellyfin server. No accounts with us, no analytics, no tracking — the App Privacy label is "Data Not Collected," and we mean it. FREE TO TRY, ONE PURCHASE EVERYWHERE Try Playfyn free. Upgrading to Playfyn Pro unlocks unlimited playback with a subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase — and universal purchase means one buy covers Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad. REQUIREMENTS Playfyn requires your own Jellyfin server (free, open-source software — jellyfin.org) on your home network or reachable remotely. Playfyn ships with no media content; you bring your own library. Playfyn is an independent project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Jellyfin project. PLAYFYN PRO — SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS • Playfyn Pro Monthly — $4.99 per month, auto-renewing • Playfyn Pro Lifetime — $39.99, one-time purchase, does not renew Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A monthly subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel your subscription in Settings > your Apple Account > Subscriptions. One purchase covers iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Terms of Use (EULA): https://playfyn.app/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://playfyn.app/privacy/

About

Portage

Features
Read full description

Portage is a player and downloader for your own media server — Plex, Emby or Jellyfin — and for video files in any folder. DOWNLOAD • Download movies and episodes to watch without a connection, in original quality or at a size you choose • Downloads continue in the background and resume after interruptions • Your files are visible in the Files app WATCH • Play downloads, or stream straight from the server • Switch audio and subtitle tracks, including the ones embedded in the file • Picture in Picture, resume where you left off, your library searchable in Spotlight • Pinch to zoom the picture to fill the screen CAST • Chromecast and Google TV • DLNA TVs and renderers • Any web browser, even the one in your car — on your network or anywhere, paired with a one-time code • Scan the code the browser shows, or type it • Stay in control from your phone: seek, switch tracks, pause CONVERT • Turn a file your TV can't play into one it can, right on the device • Presets for Apple TV, Chromecast and iPhone pick the right codec and container for you • Conversions checkpoint as they go, so pausing or quitting never loses work Portage connects to servers you already have access to. It hosts no content and has no account of its own. Downloading and streaming need a Plex, Emby or Jellyfin server; local folders play without one.

Screenshots

Playfyn3 screens
Portage4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Portage at none against Playfyn's 2. Portage also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Playfyn sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Portage asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Playfyn ships an update fortnightly, Portage every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Playfyn versus Portage: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlayfynPortage
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TViPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPlayfyn Media LLCCOINiD AB

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Playfyn

Subscriptions1
  • Playfyn Pro - Monthly$4.991 Month
One-time1
  • Playfyn Pro - Lifetime$39.99
None

Portage

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Playfyn free?
Playfyn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Portage free?
Portage is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Playfyn or Portage have ads?
Neither Playfyn nor Portage shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Playfyn or Portage?
Playfyn ships an update fortnightly, and Portage every 3 days. Most recently, Playfyn was updated on October 31, 2026 and Portage on November 13, 2026.

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