Comparison

JBL Portable vs Skullcandy

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

Head to head
About

JBL Portable

Enhance your JBL portable speaker experience with this app. Connect, control, and personalize your audio device to amplify sound, create a party atmosphere, or receive software updates and support.

Highlights
  • Connect to compatible JBL speakers
  • Stereo and Party modes
  • Personalize speaker settings
  • Control speaker functions
  • Software updates
  • Product support
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Download the JBL Portable app to get the most out of your JBL portable speakers and unlock more features. Compatible with the following speakers: - Clip 5 - Go 4, Go 4 DUO - Grip - Flip 7, Flip 6, Flip 5, Flip 4, Flip 3 - Charge 6, Charge 5, Charge 4, Charge 3 - Pulse 5, Pulse 4, Pulse 3, Pulse 2 - Tuner 3 - Xtreme 4, Xtreme 3, Xtreme 2, Xtreme - Boombox 4, Boombox 3, Boombox 2, Boombox App features: - Connect to compatible JBL portable speakers for Stereo to amplify sound or Party mode for a bigger party - Personalize and control your speaker straight from the app - Get additional software updates and product support

About

Skullcandy

Customize your audio with personalized sound profiles and adjustable equalizers. Keep your devices updated with the latest firmware and access user guides for optimal performance. Enhance your listening experience with tailored audio settings.

Highlights
  • Personal Sound profiles
  • Customizable Equalizers
  • Firmware Updates
  • User Guides & Support
  • Hearing Modes
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

About the Skullcandy App ONE APP. TOTAL CONTROL. THE FULL SKULLCANDY EXPERIENCE. TOTAL AUDIO CONTROL The Skullcandy App gives you the power to dial in your listening experience for any situation. Toggle listening modes, adjust Stay-Aware levels to let the outside world in when you need it, or fine-tune your EQ to match your music, mood, or environment. Whether you’re working out, commuting, gaming, or just kicking back, you can adapt your sound in seconds. Features vary by model. UNLOCK ADVANCED FEATURES The Skullcandy App opens the door to powerful features that take your headphones beyond the basics. Set up Personal Sound to tune audio specifically to your hearing profile, create custom EQ settings to shape your sound, and map button controls so your headphones respond exactly how you want. It’s about making your gear work for you, delivering a listening experience that feels personal, intuitive, and completely customizable. HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT Getting the most out of your headphones should be easy. The Skullcandy App gives you access to product guides, setup instructions, feature walkthroughs, and troubleshooting support all in one place. Whether you’re setting up a new product or exploring everything it can do, the app makes it simple to learn, adjust, and get back to what matters most: your music. SKULL AI HANDS FREE ASSISTANT Enabled by Bragi, Skull AI is available for Method 540 ANC earbuds, as a 90-day free trial with a paid subscription beyond that. Activate the trial through the Audio App store in the Skullcandy App, then say “OK, Skully” and your earbuds spring into action. Whether you want quick answers, recommendations, or hands-free music control, your AI is always ready. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

JBL Portable4 screens
Skullcandy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: JBL Portable at 4.7 against Skullcandy's 2.8. JBL Portable also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (63K vs 206). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model 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. Skullcandy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. JBL Portable asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

JBL Portable holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: JBL Portable has 63K ratings behind it against 206, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of JBL Portable's written reviews are positive against 18% of Skullcandy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

JBL Portable ships an update every 5 weeks, Skullcandy every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
JBL Portable versus Skullcandy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJBL PortableSkullcandy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (63K ratings) — better2.8 (206 ratings)
Positive reviews39.4% of reviews — better18.1% of reviews
Number of ratings63K — better206
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#30 — better#40
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB210 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperHarman International IndustriesSkullcandy, Inc

Customer experience

JBL Portable

All ratings59,356 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews1,512 reviews
Positive39.4%
Neutral10.5%
Negative50.1%

Skullcandy

All ratings183 ratings
Positive37.7%
Neutral10.9%
Negative51.4%
Written reviews795 reviews
Positive18.1%
Neutral12.8%
Negative69.1%

User reviews

JBL Portable

From 63K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Customizable sound settings
  • 🚀 Reliable Bluetooth connectivity
  • 💡 Useful battery life indicator
  • 👍 Sleek and durable design

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent connection issues
  • 🐛 Unreliable stereo pairing
  • 🐛 Slow app performance
  • 🐛 Inconsistent firmware updates
  • 🔋 Poor battery life

Skullcandy

From 206 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app when it works
  • 👍 Useful features like personal sound and EQ
  • 🚀 Enhances headphone capabilities

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent connection issues
  • 🐛 App crashes or fails to connect
  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with many Skullcandy products
  • 🔋 Drains battery life
  • 👎 Limited customization options

Bugs and requests

JBL Portable

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App unable to detect connected speakers
  • Stereo mode disconnects unexpectedly
  • Firmware update process causes speaker issues
  • Equalizer settings not saving properly
  • Party Boost feature unreliable

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add remote power on/off
  • Improve stereo mode stability
  • Expand EQ customization options
  • Provide better battery life reporting
  • Support for older speaker models

Skullcandy

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App fails to connect to compatible headphones
  • Personal sound setup frequently interrupted
  • Headphone controls not working as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add support for more Skullcandy products
  • Improve app stability and reliability
  • Implement custom EQ settings
  • Add dark mode option

In-app purchases

None

JBL Portable

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Skullcandy

Subscriptions2
  • Skull-AI Monthly2 variants$4.991 Month
  • Skull AI Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is JBL Portable free?
JBL Portable is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Skullcandy free?
Skullcandy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, JBL Portable or Skullcandy?
JBL Portable is rated higher. JBL Portable averages 4.7 out of 5 from 63K ratings, while Skullcandy averages 2.8 from 206 ratings.
Do JBL Portable or Skullcandy have ads?
Neither JBL Portable nor Skullcandy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, JBL Portable or Skullcandy?
JBL Portable ships an update every 5 weeks, and Skullcandy every 6 weeks. Most recently, JBL Portable was updated on October 24, 2026 and Skullcandy on October 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, JBL Portable or Skullcandy?
JBL Portable currently peaks at #30 in the App Store charts, and Skullcandy at #40. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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