# HEOS vs Hark Stream

The clearest difference is rating: HEOS at 4.4 against Hark Stream's 3.0. HEOS also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (27K vs 2). Hark Stream's advantage is review sentiment (33% vs 25%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hark Stream sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per year. HEOS asks for nothing beyond the download.

HEOS holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HEOS has 27K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of HEOS's written reviews are positive against 33% of Hark Stream'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, Hark Stream monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HEOS | Hark Stream |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heos/id843129434/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hark-stream/id6449079863/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 24.6% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Freemium |
| Size | 327 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [D&M Holdings](https://appshunter.io/developer/388608883) | [Sergey Kirichenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532990653) |

## 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


### Hark Stream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hark-stream/id6449079863)

This app enables compatible audio equipment to stream music directly from URLs. It supports devices with HEOS Built-in and select Yamaha models. A free version offers limited link playback, with a premium subscription unlocking unlimited streaming.

**Highlights:** Direct URL music streaming, HEOS Built-in device control, Yamaha CRX-N560 compatibility, Unlimited link playback (Premium), Free trial period, Annual subscription option

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Subscription | $2.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HEOS free?

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

### Is Hark Stream free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HEOS or Hark Stream?

HEOS is rated higher. HEOS averages 4.4 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while Hark Stream averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do HEOS or Hark Stream have ads?

Neither HEOS nor Hark Stream shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HEOS or Hark Stream?

HEOS ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hark Stream monthly. Most recently, HEOS was updated on October 1, 2026 and Hark Stream 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.*