Network vs Loop
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Network
A minimalist podcast player designed for simplicity and efficiency. It offers automatic volume leveling, offline episode downloads, and smart storage management. Enjoy features like variable playback speeds, a sleep timer, and easy podcast importing.
- Sound Check for consistent volume
- Automatic offline episode downloads
- Smart storage management
- Variable playback and skip rates
- Sleep Timer
- OPML import and URL subscription
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A simple, clean and efficient podcast app. - Sound Check: Automatically ensures episodes play at a more consistent volume, boosting quieter podcasts. - Offline: Automatically downloads new episodes as they become available. (the app will wait for opportunities to download when connected over Wi-Fi, user initiated downloads within the app can use both cellular/Wi-Fi). - Storage: Automatically deletes episodes from the device when played. - Other Features: Stream older episodes without downloading (cellular/Wi-Fi). Import podcasts from OPML files. Subscribe to podcasts from URL's copied to the clipboard. Variable playback rates. Variable skip rates. Sleep Timer.
Loop
An independent podcast player designed for a superior audio experience on Apple devices. It offers features like sleep timers, chapter support, and automatic backups, all within a minimalist and privacy-focused interface.
- Sleep Mode with auto-pause timer
- Episode chapter support
- Podcast collections for sequential playback
- Automatic iCloud backup
- Privacy-first, no user tracking
- Offline episode downloads
- Podcast description translation
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A simple and intuitive podcast player, without a big company behind it — Loop is an independent podcast player, designed to provide the best possible audio experience on Apple platforms. Loop is a modern and full-featured podcast player with several useful features in a simple and intuitive interface: - Sleep Mode: Dim the player’s brightness and set a timer for automatic pause. - Chapter Support: View episode topics without leaving the player. - Collections: Create collections from your favorite podcasts and listen to the latest episodes of all podcasts in sequence. - Automatic Backup: Your collections and favorite podcasts are always saved in iCloud. - Podcast Discovery: Explore content randomly, with no algorithms behind it. - Apple Standard Experience: A smooth and intuitive experience for Apple ecosystem users. - Privacy First: Your data stays on your device, with no tracking. - Customization: Personalize your Loop experience your way. - Wallpaper Studio: Turn podcast covers into wallpapers. - High-Quality Streaming: Listen to your podcasts in the best quality, without restrictions. - Episode Download: Enjoy your favorite content even offline. - Podcast Description Translation: Learn more about the podcast, even if you don't know the language spoken in it. - Smart Search: Ask Loop to find podcasts related to a topic, and it will find related podcasts powered by Apple Intelligence. Loop is funded by each unit sold. Payment will be charged to your App Store account upon purchase confirmation. Privacy policy: https://loop-app.framer.website/privacy Designed and developed in Brazil.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Loop at 4.5 against Network's 4.2. Loop also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly) and device support (4 vs 2). Network's advantage is ratings volume (11 vs 2) and price ($2.99 vs $4.99). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Network costs $2.99 and Loop $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Loop holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Network has 11 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Network's written reviews are positive against 67% of Loop's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Network ships an update monthly, Loop fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Network | Loop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.2 (11 ratings) | 4.5 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 72.1% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #34 — better | #79 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andrew Conlan | Augusto Simionato |
Customer experience
Network
Loop
In-app purchases
Network
No in-app purchases
Loop
No in-app purchases
