Comparison

HEOS vs Sonos

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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.

About

Sonos

This app centralizes your music and audio content for seamless control of your home sound system. Easily manage playback across multiple rooms, discover new music, and personalize your listening experience with saved favorites and custom settings.

Highlights
  • Unified content and control
  • Multi-room audio playback
  • Streaming service integration
  • Personalized music library
  • Easy product setup
  • Voice control integration
Read full description

The Sonos app brings all your content and settings together in one place for effortless control of your Sonos products and listening experience. ONE TAP TO ALL YOUR FAVORITE SOUNDS The Home screen puts all your content and controls right at your fingertips. Quickly jump back into your recent favorites, discover new music, and fill your home with Sonos sound. STREAMING STREAMLINED Browse, search, and play content from all your services with a single app, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, TIDAL, Audible, Deezer, iHeartRadio, and SiriusXM. WHOLE-HOME CONTROL Play something different in every part of your home or the same thing everywhere. The Sonos app gives you complete control of your Sonos products and listening experience from any room. PERSONALIZED LISTENING Create your ultimate music library by saving go-to artists, albums, playlists, and stations to Sonos Favorites. Fine-tune products for your space with Trueplay™. And adjust settings for your needs and preferences. EASY SETUP The app automatically detects your Sonos products, then it’s only a few taps to incredible sound. Easily set up a stereo pair, create a cinematic surround sound system, and add speakers to more rooms. GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SONOS EXPERIENCE Enable Sonos Voice Control to play music and control your system with hands-free ease and unheard-of privacy.* Explore helpful tips and recommendations in your Message Center. *Requires a voice-enabled Sonos product. Sonos Voice Control not available in all languages and countries.

Screenshots

HEOS4 screens
Sonos4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HEOS at none against Sonos's 1. HEOS also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Sonos's advantage is ratings volume (927K vs 27K) and chart position (#25 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. Sonos sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. HEOS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sonos holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sonos has 927K ratings behind it against 27K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 24% of HEOS's written reviews are positive against 17% of Sonos's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HEOS ships an update every 3 weeks, Sonos fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
HEOS versus Sonos: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHEOSSonos
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (27K ratings)4.6 (927K ratings) — better
Positive reviews24.4% of reviews — better17.2% of reviews
Number of ratings27K927K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#25 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size327 MB208 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperD&M HoldingsSonos, Inc.

Customer experience

HEOS

All ratings27,003 ratings
Positive84.7%
Neutral4.2%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews891 reviews
Positive24.4%
Neutral15.7%
Negative59.9%

Sonos

All ratings926,758 ratings
Positive89.3%
Neutral2.6%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews6,076 reviews
Positive17.2%
Neutral9.0%
Negative73.7%

User reviews

HEOS

From 27K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Sonos

From 927K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Seamless upgrade process
  • 🔒 Robust connectivity
  • 👍 Great sound quality

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
  • 🔍 Confusing and buggy app
  • ⏱️ Slow and unresponsive app
  • 🔄 Speakers randomly disappearing
  • 🤯 Frustrating app updates

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

Sonos

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App unable to connect to speakers
  • Speakers not recognized after updates
  • Inconsistent volume and playback controls

Requested features

3 requests
  • Improved app stability and responsiveness
  • Restore legacy features (alarms, queues, etc.)
  • Customizable app interface

In-app purchases

None

HEOS

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Sonos

Subscriptions1
  • Sonos Radio HD Monthly1 Month trial$9.991 Month

Questions

Is HEOS free?
HEOS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sonos free?
Sonos is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, HEOS or Sonos?
Sonos is rated higher. HEOS averages 4.4 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while Sonos averages 4.6 from 927K ratings.
Do HEOS or Sonos have ads?
Sonos shows ads; HEOS does not.
Which is updated more often, HEOS or Sonos?
HEOS ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sonos fortnightly. Most recently, HEOS was updated on September 25, 2026 and Sonos on September 25, 2026.

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