Third-party Sonos controller apps, compared honestly.
There is no single best controller for every household. This guide compares the main options by the work they are designed to do, so you can pick the right app for your devices and system.
Last checked 18 September 2026. Prices, support and features can change.
What each controller is built for.
This is a practical starting point, not a feature scorecard. Information about other apps comes from their current public product pages and App Store listings; use the linked sources to check the details that matter before buying.
| App | Where it runs | Best fit | Important limits or notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos app | iPhone, iPad and Android; separate Mac, Windows and web options. | Setting up speakers, system settings and official support. | The official app is required for new-system setup. Its web app has basic control; desktop support differs from mobile. |
| Sonement | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. | One native Apple controller with rooms, queues and search across compatible connected services. | Requires OS 26.0 or later. S1 compatibility is not yet verified; see compatibility. |
| Orto | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. | Apple-device control surfaces, widgets, shortcuts and automations. | Its maker says speaker setup and service management still use the official Sonos app. |
| Menu Bar Controller | Mac. | Mac-first control: menu bar, keyboard, widgets, shortcuts and a music-library window. | Its maker advertises a 14-day trial, one-time purchase and S1 support. It is a Mac-only controller. |
| Soro | iPhone, iPad and Mac. | Shortcuts, automations, widgets and control-centre actions. | The developer documents music-service support and notes YouTube Music is currently unsupported. |
| SonoPad / SonoPhone | SonoPad is designed for iPad; the developer also offers SonoPhone for iPhone. | Traditional controller layout, especially for older S1 or S2 systems. | SonoPad’s listing says initial speaker and service setup still need the official app, and lists no alarm or sleep-timer support. |
Choose by the moment.
Use the official Sonos app for setup and administration
Adding products, changing system settings and getting official support belong in the official Sonos app. It also remains the right answer if your household uses Android or Windows.
Choose Sonement for a full Apple-device controller
Sonement fits a household that wants rooms, queues and compatible connected-service search in the same native app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch and TV.
Choose Orto for Apple shortcuts and hardware surfaces
Orto is worth comparing if Share to Play, NFC-triggered routines, lock-screen controls or its particular Watch and Apple TV controls are central to your routine.
Choose Menu Bar Controller for a Mac-first desk
If the menu bar, keyboard control, AppleScript and a dedicated Mac music library are the priority, Menu Bar Controller is purpose-built for that job.
Choose Soro for Shortcuts automation
Soro is a strong fit when your aim is a library of Shortcuts actions, widget actions or text-to-speech announcements rather than a five-device controller.
Choose SonoPad or SonoPhone for older-system coverage
The developer advertises S1 and S2 support. Confirm your exact device and feature needs on its App Store listing before purchasing.
Questions before switching controllers.
- Can a third-party app set up a new Sonos system?
- Use the official Sonos app for initial setup and system administration. Third-party controllers focus on day-to-day playback and control.
- Will every app work with an S1 system?
- No. System-generation support varies. Sonement has not yet verified S1 support; the other apps’ public claims are linked in the comparison above.
- Do all controllers search every music service?
- No. Music-service capabilities depend on the app, the service, the account and the Sonos integration. Check the current product page before relying on a particular service.
- Is Sonement affiliated with Sonos?
- No. Sonement is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Sonos, Inc.
Send support your Apple device, Sonos system generation and music service. We will say if Sonement is a poor fit for that setup.