HEOS vs Meridian Control
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HEOS
Control a wide range of connected audio devices from Denon, Marantz, and Definitive Technology. Stream music from online services or local storage, and enjoy true multi-room audio with easy setup and intuitive control.
- True multi-room audio
- Quick and easy setup
- Access online music services
- Search across multiple music sources
- Control playback remotely
- Access locally stored music
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HEOS is the controller app for the world’s biggest and best range of connected audio gear. It is a smart music streaming technology found in all devices Powered by HEOS from Denon, Marantz, and Definitive Technology. HEOS is for music lovers who want a beautiful and intuitive way to enjoy the latest advances in connected audio. You can find HEOS built into great sounding AV receivers, Hi-Fi equipment, sound bars, speakers, mini systems and specialty multi-room models. Features: True multi-room audio: play different songs in different rooms or the same song in multiple rooms. Quick and easy setup: add all your speakers with step-by-step instructions. Instant access to your favorite music: play from your favorite online music services, like Spotify, Amazon Music, TIDAL, and more. Search your music in one place: use one search function to browse across multiple music sources. See what’s playing any time: play, pause, and skip music from anywhere in the app. Access locally stored music: play music saved to your phone, USB, analog inputs, computers, and NAS drives. Share with your friends and family: support for multiple users and multiple music service accounts.
Meridian Control
This application acts as a control and setup tool for compatible Meridian audio devices. It allows users to manage various system aspects, including source selection, volume, and tone controls, via their iOS device. The app also provides feedback on device status and network configuration.
- Source selection and volume control
- Tone controls
- SpeakerLink control
- Bluetooth device management
- Network configuration
- Device feedback display
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The Meridian Control application from Meridian Audio serves as a graphical control and set-up tool for your Meridian compatible device. The application searches and connects to Bluetooth® and network controllable devices. When connected to a device, the application allows you to set up and control many aspects of your Meridian system from your iOS device. Control and set-up options include: · Meridian source selection and volume control · Tone controls · Meridian SpeakerLink control · Source Lipsync and sensitivity · Bluetooth device management · Network configuration Along with system control, the Meridian Control app provides a feedback display for the connected device; this information includes: · Device zone name · Selected source and volume status · Current audio input · Input sample-rate Note: The Meridian Control app is compatible with the following Meridian devices: - 218 Zone Controller - 251 Powered Zone Controller - 271 Digital Theatre Controller - ID41 Audio Endpoint - 210 Streamer - B-Link - Ellipse Speaker
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: HEOS at 4.4 against Meridian Control's 3.5. HEOS also leads on ratings volume (27K vs 4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Meridian Control's advantage is review sentiment (67% vs 29%) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HEOS holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HEOS has 27K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 29% of HEOS's written reviews are positive against 67% of Meridian Control's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
HEOS ships an update every 3 weeks, Meridian Control every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HEOS | Meridian Control |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (27K ratings) — better | 3.5 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 29.5% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 27K — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 328 MB | 129 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | D&M Holdings | MERIDIAN AUDIO LIMITED |
Customer experience
HEOS
Meridian Control
Bugs and requests
HEOS
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes and freezes frequently
- Speakers randomly disappear from the network
- Volume controls are inconsistent and unreliable
- Sync issues between grouped speakers
Requested features
4 requests- Add support for Apple Music
- Improve playlist management and queue functionality
- Provide better customization options for rooms and speakers
- Implement a more intuitive and user-friendly app design
Meridian Control
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
HEOS
No in-app purchases
Meridian Control
No in-app purchases
