# HDHomeRun — user reviews > 219 indexed App Store user reviews of HDHomeRun by SiliconDust USA, Inc., rated 2.50/5 from 465 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hdhomerun/id949582631/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hdhomerun/id949582631.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 86 · 4★ 56 · 3★ 66 · 2★ 68 · 1★ 189 ## What do users think of HDHomeRun? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Fastest TV app - 📺 Great picture quality - 🔍 Picks up more channels than TV tuner - 🔌 Works reliably - 🔨 Decent hardware **Cons** - 🐛 Crashes frequently - 🔍 Unreliable channel detection - 🤖 Clunky and unintuitive UI - 🔇 No independent volume control - 🔒 Lacks DRM support - 🔍 Struggles with ATSC 3.0 channels - 🔍 Slow and sluggish performance - 💤 No live feed or background audio **Commonly reported bugs** - Fails to detect tuner device - Channels not loading - Playback issues after updates - Crashes on channel change - Compatibility problems with iOS 15+ - Lip-sync issues **Most requested features** - Picture-in-Picture mode - Channel favorites and filtering - Improved DVR functionality - Manual IP address entry - Native Apple TV app ## Newest reviews (17 of 219) ### 2/5 — Not too good *2026-08-05, version 20260730* The recording, pause, play, etc is very unstable and clunky. You cannot use your antenna when there is no internet, which is exactly why I installed the antenna. A most disappointing app. Ok in a pinch to watch local stuff. ### 4/5 — Love Volume is seperate but no Subtitles still *2026-07-20, version 20260710* Love Volume is seperate but no Subtitles still ### 3/5 — Functional but could use work *2026-07-04, version 20260701* To developer: Please make the rudimentary Mac keyboard shortcuts work: Cmd+Q should quit the app rather than bringing up the search. ### 2/5 — Means to an end, but wow it’s bare bones *2026-07-02, version 20260701* Command+Q isn’t even working in this version, it brings up search. LOL. ### 4/5 — This works good on AppeTv 4k *2026-05-18, version 20260116* I have actually downloaded this to my Apple TV 4K directly from the App store. I first had this installed on my MacMini M4, OS 26..5 as of today / 05/17/26. Unfortunately I had to do a clean install to my M4 and now I am having problems. But I still can watch this on my Apple TV, ie the box connected to my Television. I have a good TV antenna on my roof and I receive +106 channels. I’m using the 4 channel tuner from Silicon Dust. I live 50+ miles away in the Tri-valley of Dub,Plea,Liver. I am amazed at the tuner’s sensitivity . Much much better than my Sony. ### 2/5 — Marginal for Offgrid *2026-05-04, version 20260310* The dvr function requires full time internet access, not unreasonable. But it also loads a large animation at start-time and during frequent cell outages those of us offgrid or on limited bandwidth are unable to use it because it hangs while loading. If nothing else the animation should be cached or skippable. ### 2/5 — Renders AppleTV networking useless *2026-04-24, version 20260310* On my AppleTVs I’ve isolated the problem to this app - every few times I use it the AppleTV’s Ethernet networking gets confused and stops working for all apps. Only this app and only on AppleTV. For years it has been happening, I restart the AppleTV but it doesn’t work until the next day and only with this app. I can only guess that something non-standard is happening. I use Ethernet and a manual fixed IP. I searched the internet but no answers. ### 4/5 — Works fine *2026-04-07, version 20260310* Only wish would be to remove that warning to connect to WiFi. I VPN home and this would work if it wasn’t for the warning message. ### 3/5 — AppleTV problems *2026-04-03, version 20260310* April 2026 Replace AppleTV with Amazon Fire Stick HD as Apple TV now on ios26 was taking longer to change channels even though iPad version was working ok. Image quality much improved and channel switch takes ### 3/5 — MAC pc: Local Network for APP must be toggled *2026-02-20, version 20260116* Every time I turn on MacBook, I have to toggle the Local Network setting for the HDHomeRun in order for the app to launch. Retry doesn’t work ### 2/5 — Hardware great. App so so …at best *2026-02-14, version 20260116* The app on latest iOS crashes instantly. Restarts and crashes. It’s to point that it is worthless. On older iPad, it works great. Well, not great. For example if I leave app running and am done using iPad, when I return using it, I have to close the app and restart else it won’t work. Come on guys, shameful to negate the great hardware with such a mediocre app. At the very least, keep up with IOS changes. ### 4/5 — No mute - Fixed *2026-01-22, version 20260116* Works well, no option to mute in the app. The windows app has mute... Fixed now. ### 3/5 — Functional *2026-01-19, version 20260116* I purchased this so I could record live TV from my antennae. I have a ROKU made TV and it work ok watching live TV. In order to watch a recording you have to screen mirror the app from your iPhone. The Roku app crashes frequently if the recording has any glitches. It works fine for the money. ### 4/5 — HD app freezes *2026-01-18, version 20260116* The HD app picks up a good amount of channels but freezes quite often. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled the app but the problem persists. This applies to the IOS and Roku apps. I hope this problem is resolved soon! ### 3/5 — Suddenly stopped working Apple TV only *2026-01-16, version 20251217* I love this system it works great up until yesterday on my Apple TVs. One by one they stopped working. Not for my mobile devices. It says no channels found but the iPad and iPhone finds them just fine. I can’t find any troubleshooting on this. The best work around I found is set the shows to record on the iPhone app then use the recorded section to play back since that’s the only part it detects on Apple TV. ### 3/5 — Works, no frills *2025-11-11, version 20251023* Works reliably and well, no frills interface that’s a bit clunky compared to the UIs in other streaming apps. I’m mostly disappointed that there’s no Picture in Picture support on iOS ### 3/5 — Cannot mute independent of system volume *2025-10-26, version 20250721* I want to be able to have a FaceTime call going at the same time as HDHomeRun in the background on mute so I don’t have 2 audio sources, but the app doesn’t have its own mute feature or independent volume control, so I cannot share watching a football game remotely with my dad! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Essential but hardly works *2026-07-17, version 20260710* HDHomeRun has been part of my home setup for years, it’s great that I can record shows and have a library. But it’s frustrating because the app repeatedly can’t find the tuner on the local network. Often met with the Retry, Quit, Communication Error, Fail. Try another iPhone or Mac and it might work. What is the app doing that it can’t find a device or easily stream from it? I wish it was stable. I can’t figure it out. ### 1/5 — Missing Samsung *2026-06-26, version 20260310* This app could use work. I would give it 3.5 stars if it solved for the full ecosystem. Currently missing a Samsung TV version which is a BIG deal in my house. Samsung has a big slice of the TV market share. You can't ignore it ### 1/5 — Zero stars. Junk app. *2026-06-05, version 20260310* This app looks like it was written 20 years ago. ### 1/5 — Just stops playing channels *2026-03-11, version 20260116* App rarely works on Apple TV. It will play a channel from 5-30 minutes and then just stop. Have to force close app and do it all over again. ### 1/5 — Does not work *2026-02-11, version 20260116* It doesn’t even start up. Keeps crashing every single time I try to open it. ### 1/5 — No video after update *2026-01-05, version 20251217* Last week’s update has broken the app on every iOS device we own… everything was working fine prior to the Christmas update, now the app virtually useless now ### 1/5 — Poor Execution Despite Good Concept *2025-10-31, version 20251023* This app is incredibly disappointing on Apple TV. There’s no HDR support for unencrypted ATSC 3.0 channels, resulting in washed-out colors. It also lacks Dolby Atmos support, and the menu is sluggish — with no live feed or background audio, just silence. The idea behind the devices is solid, but the execution is terrible. Even for free over-the-air TV, the experience is worse than using my TV’s built-in tuner, which is much faster Additionally, there’s no DRM support, meaning some channels can’t be accessed. While I personally believe DRM should be abolished, it’s frustrating that this limitation prevents full channel access. Please improve this app — the DirecTV Stream app is a good example of how this could be done right. ### 1/5 — Crashes and locks up *2025-08-27, version 20250721* Latest update causes program to either lock up or crash with just a black screen. Disappointing as it used to work quite well. Pity I can’t go back to the previous version. ### 1/5 — Software is bad *2025-08-21, version 20250721* I get communication issues I can’t start recordings in progress from the beginning and it’s generally hard to navigate not worth the $35 a year they charge I am giving tablo a try ### 1/5 — Cashes frequently *2025-07-12, version 20250604* Please fix this. Just bought the HDHomeRun 4k flex. This crashes ALL THE TIME. The app closes without error messages. Very unstable. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great way to cut the cord! *2026-08-20, version 20260730* Hardware and app are excellent. We use with iPads and Roku and not a hitch. UI is well done and it’s easy to record, playback, and manage recordings. Image quality is better than streaming too. I paired a FLEX 4k with an SSD, wired connection to router (no wifi hops between the FLEX and router), and playback is smooth. Got strong signal for it to work with. All but a handful of channels are at 100% everything, and those that aren’t are no lower than 90%. Zero complaints. Lots of kudos. ### 5/5 — Just Works *2026-05-31, version 20260310* Great product! I hooked it up to a ClearStream 4v antenna and I got 45 local channels automatically. Now I can watch local sports over the air. The app works on all my TVs via Apple TV and Roku and on my iPhone. If you get a good antenna and are in range of your local broadcasters you’ll be golden. I don’t understand why this app has a 2.5 rating! ### 5/5 — Great *2026-03-30, version 20260116* Idk, works well for me in 2026. The reviews for the HDHR apps almost stopped me from buying the unit altogether, but I’m glad they didn’t. I’m using a Mohu Gateway Plus antenna and a HDHR Flex Quatro w/ ATSC 1.0. So far the Android app on a Galaxy Fold 7, the iPad app on a 4th Gen iPad Pro, the MacOS app on a 2023 M2 Max, and the Apple TV app on a ATV 4K haven’t given me any issues and I’m extremely pleased with my purchase. Fast-Forwarding a recorded playback is admittedly a little clunky, but I think that could be from using a slow HDD. Something to be aware of though, but imo not a reason at all not to use this as a cost-cutting solution. ### 5/5 — Excellent *2026-03-02, version 20260116* I’ve used this app for over 8 years everyday in my offgrid cabin. It’s improved over that time time and is nearly faultless today. ### 5/5 — OTA saving money lowering TX power *2026-01-21, version 20260116* Love using the hdhomerun dual tuner. I have it upstairs on a powered antenna. Works great to pull in those weak OTA signals. I can also tune in from anywhere using my VPN. But there is one critic that really bugs my OCD. On the Apple TV while watching live tv can you make the overlay menu automatically disappear after 60 seconds. ### 5/5 — Fastest TV App out there, best in class! *2025-12-14, version 20251023* Picks up more channels than an integrated tv tunner. Fast program to change channels. Keep it that way. New FCC needs to protect the airwaves of free TV without encryption. ### 5/5 — Much better than the reviews indicate *2025-05-02, version 20250128* I have been off-put from trying this app on this particular device (MacOS) due to the abysmal reviews. From what I see in this version, the UI is just the same as any of the other applications on iOS. With the HDHomeRun set up correctly, there is no issue with streaming and there is nearly no delay from live television direct from the television. The TV Guide and interface is adequate and even far more attractive than I would have hoped. For my purposes, I want a ‘slim’ and non-bloated interface so that the application runs efficiently and without bugs. This achieves this. ### 5/5 — Picture quality is good and setup was not too bad *2025-04-24, version 20250326* It took a few steps to setup but the info was easy to lookup on Google. ### 5/5 — Stability is improved greatly *2025-04-22* I’ve been using this app for 7-8 years and the latest UI has improved stability, crashes seem to be a thing of the past and the player response is very good. The UI is loaded from their servers at start-time. Continuous improvement makes this a great solution and support is very responsive. ### 5/5 — Fix may be in place *2024-04-28, version 20240209* 4/28/24: Another new gui dropped in the last few days with major improvements to the navigation toolbar, now it appears in the center of the screen in much larger form that is easy to access. Previously the controls were small and down at the bottom of the screen. Updates to the app are slow but improvements to the gui can happen at any time since it’s loaded through the net at runtime. 12/25/23: A new gui dropped today and it’s a beauty, no big UI changes but some annoying quirks were corrected, mostly concerning scrolling with a mouse wheel on an iPad for me. Best is the player controls are now cleaner and easier to hit. I am a big fan. (The dvr gui is loaded at start time from servers at silicondust, they get tweaked pretty often so little quirks may sneak in and then back out without you knowing exactly why - they are supporting a very wide array of browsers and platforms. I appreciate the economy of this approach and would much rather live with occasional quirks than wait months for a binary update.) My #2 feature wish below is still unaddressed, here’s hoping someday… 7/18/23: I’ve used this app every day since 2019 in a remote offgrid cabin that happens to have usable tv signal quality. After an initial drought there is a now steady stream of updates. Every one has fixed some annoyance or other and right now I don’t have any serious complaints at all. Feature requests #1 I’d like the player controls to be much bigger and overlaid on the video. As they are they’re very hard to hit accurately on an iphone and it’s awkward even on an iPad with a mouse. #2 I’d *like* to be able to re-record a tv series without scheduling every episode manually. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-30.*