# HEOS vs Almando Play

The clearest difference is update cadence: HEOS at every 3 weeks against Almando Play's every 2 months. Almando Play's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

HEOS ships an update every 3 weeks, Almando Play every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HEOS | Almando Play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heos/id843129434/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 24.6% of reviews | **28.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 327 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [D&M Holdings](https://appshunter.io/developer/388608883) | [almando GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1207815782) |

## What reviewers say

### HEOS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heos/id843129434)

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.

**Highlights:** True multi-room audio, Quick and easy setup, Access online music services, Search across multiple music sources, Control playback remotely, Access locally stored music

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent sound quality
- 🔒 Robust wireless connectivity
- 👍 Convenient app control
- 💡 Integrates with various music services

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable app
- 👎 Poor user interface and navigation
- 🔌 Connectivity issues and frequent disconnects
- 💤 Slow app performance and loading times

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes frequently
- Speakers randomly disappear from the network
- Volume controls are inconsistent and unreliable
- Sync issues between grouped speakers

**Requested features**

- 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


### Almando Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/almando-play/id1486100016)

This app configures and operates special audio devices, allowing seamless integration of various consumer electronics. It automatically manages speaker activation and source switching for a simplified entertainment experience. Customize sound settings and enjoy internet radio or USB music playback.

**Highlights:** Device configuration, Automatic source switching, Speaker management, Sound settings customization, Lip sync adjustment, Internet radio playback, USB music playback

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HEOS free?

HEOS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Almando Play free?

Almando Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do HEOS or Almando Play have ads?

Neither HEOS nor Almando Play shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HEOS or Almando Play?

HEOS ships an update every 3 weeks, and Almando Play every 2 months. Most recently, HEOS was updated on September 27, 2026 and Almando Play on June 1, 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.*