# HEOS vs jControl

The clearest difference is rating: HEOS at 4.4 against jControl's 1.9. HEOS also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (27K vs 126). jControl's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

HEOS holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HEOS has 27K ratings behind it against 126, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of HEOS's written reviews are positive against 11% of jControl's.

HEOS ships an update every 3 weeks, jControl every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HEOS | jControl |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heos/id843129434/reviews)** | [1.9 (126 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jcontrol/id924302001/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | 126 |
| Positive reviews | **24.6% of reviews** | 11.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 327 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [D&M Holdings](https://appshunter.io/developer/388608883) | [ASA Electronics, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/924302000) |

## 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


### jControl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jcontrol/id924302001)

Transform your mobile device into a wireless remote for your JENSEN stereo system. Control all primary functions, including power, volume, radio, media playback, and audio settings, directly from your phone or tablet. Enjoy a convenient, pocket-sized control for your RV lifestyle.

**Highlights:** Power on/off, Volume and mute control, CD/DVD player control, AM/FM radio tuner access, Bluetooth streaming audio, USB media playback control, Audio menu settings

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HEOS free?

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

### Is jControl free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HEOS or jControl?

HEOS is rated higher. HEOS averages 4.4 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while jControl averages 1.9 from 126 ratings.

### Do HEOS or jControl have ads?

Neither HEOS nor jControl shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HEOS or jControl?

HEOS ships an update every 3 weeks, and jControl every 5 months. Most recently, HEOS was updated on September 30, 2026 and jControl on September 22, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*