Comparison

CX Music Player vs FolderPlay

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

Head to head
About

CX Music Player

Features
Read full description

CX Music Player is a simple, free music player for audio files you already keep in Files. Choose a folder, review the music found inside it, skip subfolders that contain podcasts or sound effects, and import only the tracks you want. After import, it reads common MP3 ID3, M4A/MP4 atoms, and FLAC/Vorbis tags locally on your device. Compatible local M3U8 playlists can keep your chosen order. YOUR FOLDERS, YOUR CHOICE • Choose a directory through Apple's Files picker • Find supported audio in nested subfolders • Exclude any folder before importing • Keep an organized local library on your iPhone BROWSE YOUR LIBRARY • Browse Songs, Artists, Albums, and Genres when available • Import ordered local M3U8 playlists • Keep the Folders view for your original organization • Play albums in disc and track order • Display compatible embedded JPEG or PNG cover art COMPLETE PLAYBACK • Play one folder alone or include its enabled subfolders • Play, pause, seek, skip, and go back • Remove individual songs from Up Next without deleting Library music • Shuffle and repeat your music • Continue listening in the background • Use lock-screen and Control Center playback controls PLAN MUSIC FOR LATER • Keep non-playable song ideas in Finds and Planned Playlists • Search your imported Library and saved plans locally • Add a title or save a public music link without downloading it • Share or import a metadata-only CX Music Player JSON file • Keep playable Library playlists separate from planning lists LOW-DISTRACTION CONTROLS • Manually switch to large Previous, Play/Pause, and Next controls • Reach Up Next or your Folders without scrolling • Set up music while parked and prefer car controls or Siri when available PARKED CAR-AUDIO HELP • See the current playback output reported by iOS • Run a silent connection check • Open Apple's system playback-route picker • Review pairing and auto-connect checks for your radio PRIVATE BY DESIGN CX Music Player has no account, ads, subscriptions, in-app purchases, analytics, or backend. Audio, filenames, embedded tags, cover art, imported M3U8 data, Library data, Finds, and Plans are processed locally. A shared planning JSON contains metadata, notes, public source links, and portable IDs—not audio, local file paths, or API keys—and goes only to the iOS destination you choose. Current output names and types are displayed only in memory. Imported audio and its cover art are marked excluded from device backups; iOS may back up small non-audio app data. GOOD TO KNOW iOS does not let apps silently scan the whole phone. CX Music Player scans only the Files folder you explicitly choose. M3U8 playlists may reference only relative files inside that folder; web addresses and other arbitrary URIs are not loaded. The app does not access Apple Music or MusicKit, stream music, download from media services, or share your audio files. Importing creates a local copy and therefore uses device storage. Direct MusicBrainz and Last.fm search is disabled in this release pending terms and privacy review. Optional Google and YouTube actions open a fixed search in Safari; CX Music Player does not scrape results, embed those sites, or download media. Driving Mode is an in-app screen, not a CarPlay app. CX Music Player cannot pair a radio, force a Bluetooth connection, change the radio source or priority, or configure automatic reconnection. Pair and configure your car through iPhone Settings and the radio while parked. Supported file extensions: MP3, M4A, AAC, WAV, AIFF, AIF, CAF, and FLAC. Playback depends on the file's codec and integrity. Playlist format: UTF-8 M3U8 with local relative paths. Choose your folder and press play. That's it.

About

FolderPlay

Features
Read full description

FolderPlay turns a folder in Files into a continuous audio queue. Choose a folder once. FolderPlay finds supported audio files, keeps their natural filename order, and starts playing without importing or copying them into another library. Come back later and continue from the same folder, file, and position. It is a focused player for lessons, recordings, mixes, demos, chapters, and music already organized on your device or in a Files provider. FREE • Play one folder from beginning to end • Keep the source folder unchanged • Background audio and lock screen controls LIFETIME UNLOCK • Save and resume unlimited folders • Bookmarks, playback speeds, and sleep timer • One purchase, no subscription FolderPlay does not upload your audio, create an account, stream a catalog, or build a duplicate media library.

Screenshots

CX Music Player4 screens
FolderPlay3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CX Music Player at none against FolderPlay's 1. 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. FolderPlay sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CX Music Player asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
CX Music Player versus FolderPlay: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCX Music PlayerFolderPlay
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCoetic X LLCArthur Borges

In-app purchases

None

CX Music Player

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

FolderPlay

One-time1
  • FolderPlay Lifetime$4.99

Questions

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

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