# HEOS vs Sonos

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 (#17 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sonos sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. HEOS asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

HEOS ships an update every 3 weeks, Sonos fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | HEOS | Sonos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heos/id843129434/reviews) | **[4.6 (927K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonos/id1488977981/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 27K | **927K** |
| Positive reviews | **24.4% of reviews** | 17.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#17** |
| Size | 327 MB | 208 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [D&M Holdings](https://appshunter.io/developer/388608883) | [Sonos, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/293523034) |

## 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


### Sonos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonos/id1488977981)

**Currently charting:** #17 Top Free · Music, #36 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sonos Radio HD Monthly | $9.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- App unable to connect to speakers
- Speakers not recognized after updates
- Inconsistent volume and playback controls

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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 26, 2026 and Sonos on September 26, 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.*