# HEOS vs AVR Controller

The clearest difference is review sentiment: AVR Controller at 100% against HEOS's 29%. AVR Controller also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). HEOS's advantage is ratings volume (27K vs 1) and chart position (#205 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, 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.

AVR Controller holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HEOS has 27K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of HEOS's written reviews are positive against 100% of AVR Controller's.

HEOS ships an update every 3 weeks, AVR Controller monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HEOS | AVR Controller |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heos/id843129434/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avr-controller-volume-dial/id6766823418/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 29.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#205** | — |
| Size | 328 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [D&M Holdings](https://appshunter.io/developer/388608883) | [Yorihito Tada](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546201373) |

## What reviewers say

### HEOS

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

**Currently charting:** #205 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

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


### AVR Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avr-controller-volume-dial/id6766823418)

Control your network-enabled AV receiver with ease from your iPhone or iPad. Adjust volume, switch inputs, and manage settings instantly without searching for your physical remote.

**Highlights:** Volume dial and slider control, Instant response over Wi-Fi, Input and surround mode switching, Customizable home screen layout, Multi-zone control (Zone 2/3), FM/AM tuner presets, On-screen menu navigation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HEOS free?

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

### Is AVR Controller free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HEOS or AVR Controller?

AVR Controller is rated higher. HEOS averages 4.4 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while AVR Controller averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do HEOS or AVR Controller have ads?

Neither HEOS nor AVR Controller shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HEOS or AVR Controller?

HEOS ships an update every 3 weeks, and AVR Controller monthly. Most recently, HEOS was updated on October 18, 2026 and AVR Controller on October 7, 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.*