# iPeng vs JPLAY

The clearest difference is price: JPLAY at Free against iPeng's $8.99. JPLAY also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 weeks). iPeng's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (76% vs 59%). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

JPLAY is free to download; iPeng costs $8.99 up front. iPeng sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and JPLAY sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iPeng holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iPeng has 1K ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of iPeng's written reviews are positive against 59% of JPLAY's.

iPeng ships an update every 5 weeks, JPLAY every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iPeng | JPLAY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $8.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipeng/id767266886/reviews)** | [4.3 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 52 |
| Positive reviews | **76.5% of reviews** | 58.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 36 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PenguinLovesMusic.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/296941579) | [Marcin Ostapowicz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1608773459) |

## What reviewers say

### iPeng

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipeng/id767266886)

Control your Squeezebox or Roon music server with this remote app. Manage playlists, control multi-room playback, and even turn your device into a music player with an in-app purchase. Optimized for the latest iOS devices and features.

**Highlights:** Squeezebox and Roon server control, Multi-room playback management, Playlist and favorites management, Customizable main menu, Today Widget and Apple Watch support, Optional playback capability via IAP

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iPeng Playback | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best app for controlling Squeezebox
- 👍 Excellent functionality and interface
- 🎨 Customizable and flexible
- 💻 Works across Apple devices
- 🔊 Supports high-res audio

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔁 Inconsistent behavior when switching between players
- 🖼️ Artwork issues with streaming services
- 🤖 Outdated or unintuitive UI in places
- 💰 Expensive for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Album playback issues
- Disconnection problems with LMS server
- Inability to log in after updates
- Syncing problems with non-Squeezebox devices

**Requested features**

- iOS 18 widget support
- Improved playlist management
- Support for Asian languages
- Built-in VPN for remote access
- Apple TV app version


### JPLAY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jplay/id1608773457)

This app is a high-fidelity music player designed for audiophiles. It seamlessly integrates streaming services like Qobuz and Tidal with local music files, offering a unified interface for all your audio content. Experience superior sound quality and discover new music through its intuitive design and advanced features.

**Highlights:** Plays Qobuz, Tidal, and local music files, Works with most streamers and network DACs, HQPlayer Control API integration, Dramatically better sound quality, Radio feature for music discovery, Extended playlist management, Artist bios and album reviews

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| JPLAY Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $149.00 | one-time |
| JPLAY Lifetime | $199.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Superior sound quality compared to competitors
- 👍 Intuitive and clean user interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive app performance
- 🔌 Seamless UPnP/DLNA integration
- 📱 Works without requiring a server

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription pricing ($50/year, $199 lifetime)
- ❌ No monthly subscription option available
- 🐛 Frequent connectivity and playback issues
- 📱 iOS-only application
- 🔄 No cross-device synchronization

**Reported bugs**

- Tracks fail to render or play from Tidal
- App crashes on startup with older iOS versions
- Playback stuttering and lag issues
- Renderer in transition errors
- Device discovery failures

**Requested features**

- Monthly subscription option
- Cross-device synchronization for playlists and favorites
- EQ and tone adjustment controls
- DSD file playback support
- Multi-room audio capability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iPeng free?

iPeng costs $8.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is JPLAY free?

JPLAY is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iPeng or JPLAY?

iPeng is rated higher. iPeng averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while JPLAY averages 4.3 from 52 ratings.

### Do iPeng or JPLAY have ads?

Neither iPeng nor JPLAY shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iPeng or JPLAY?

iPeng ships an update every 5 weeks, and JPLAY every 3 weeks. Most recently, iPeng was updated on October 15, 2026 and JPLAY on October 12, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*