ISU Cyclones vs Varsity Network
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ISU Cyclones
Stay connected with Iowa State University athletics. Access exclusive video content, engage with interactive social media, and get real-time scores and stats for all games. Receive custom alerts for important Gameday information.
- Exclusive video content
- Interactive social media integration
- Live scores and stats
- Play-by-play information
- Custom Gameday notifications
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Iowa State University, in partnership with SIDEARM Sports is excited to bring you the official ISU Cyclones app that is a must-have for fans headed to campus or following the Cyclones from afar. With exclusive video, interactive social media, and all the scores and stats surrounding the game, the ISU Cyclones app covers it all! + SOCIAL STREAM - View social media content. + SCORES & STATS - All available scores, stats, and play-by-play information that fans need and expect during live games + NOTIFICATIONS - Custom alert notifications to let fans know everything surrounding Gameday
Varsity Network
Access live and on-demand audio broadcasts for college sports teams. Enjoy official team channels, exclusive content, and real-time streaming for games and podcasts. Experience the excitement of college sports audio anywhere.
- Vast audio library of live broadcasts, shows, and podcasts
- Official team audio channels
- Live audio streaming
- On-demand listening for past content
- Exclusive original content
- NCAA Postseason event coverage
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Welcome to the Varsity Network, the ultimate app for college sports fans who crave the best in official team audio content. Whether you're on the go or relaxing at home, Varsity Network delivers the largest collection of live and on-demand audio broadcasts from your favorite college teams. With the free Varsity Network app, fans get access to key features: Vast Audio Library: Immerse yourself in an extensive selection of live game broadcasts, shows, and podcasts from hundreds of teams across various sports. Our comprehensive audio archive ensures you never miss a beat. Official Team Channels: Tune into official audio feeds for authentic commentary and insights directly from the source. Experience the game as if you were there with the most accurate and engaging audio content. Live Audio Streaming: Follow the action in real-time with high-quality audio streaming. Feel the excitement of live sports, no matter where you are. On-Demand Listening: Access past games, shows, and podcasts anytime you want. Our on-demand library allows you to catch up on missed moments or replay your favorite segments. NCAA Postseason: Official streaming partner of Westwood One’s coverage of March Madness, the College World Series and other NCAA Postseason events. Exclusive Original Content: Discover unique shows, behind-the-scenes interviews, and in-depth analyses that you won't find anywhere else. Our original content provides fresh perspectives and deeper insights into your favorite teams and sports. Varsity Network transforms your sports listening experience, bringing you closer to the action with every broadcast. Download the app today and enjoy the most comprehensive collection of official team audio content available. Get ready to listen and cheer like never before!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ISU Cyclones at 4.3 against Varsity Network's 2.9. ISU Cyclones also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Varsity Network's advantage is chart position (#208 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ISU Cyclones holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 387 and 512 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of ISU Cyclones's written reviews are positive against 24% of Varsity Network's.
ISU Cyclones ships an update every 5 weeks, Varsity Network every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ISU Cyclones | Varsity Network |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (387 ratings) — better | 2.9 (512 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 35.4% of reviews — better | 23.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 387 | 512 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #208 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 269 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SIDEARM Sports | Learfield Communications, Inc. |
Customer experience
ISU Cyclones
Varsity Network
User reviews
ISU Cyclones
From 387 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📱 Comprehensive coverage of all ISU athletics
- 🎥 Ability to watch games and coaches' shows on-demand
- 📍 Reliable schedule updates and event notifications
- 👨👩👧👦 Great resource for out-of-state fans and families
- 📊 In-depth articles and stats on student athletes
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and loading failures
- 🎬 Video streaming unreliable and slow
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain in background
- 📺 Screen rotation functionality broken
- 📰 Outdated event information and late postings
Varsity Network
From 512 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great app for college sports fans
- 🔥 Unlimited college sports broadcasts
- 🎉 Free service with no subscription fee
- 🔊 High-quality audio production
- 📡 Ability to listen to local radio broadcasts
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🚫 Inability to get past advertisement screen
- 🔍 Difficulty finding and accessing favorite teams
- 🔁 Issues with audio skipping and repeating
- 📵 App not working when screen is locked
Bugs and requests
ISU Cyclones
Reported bugs
11 issues- App won't launch or crashes on startup
- Video playback stuck on loading spinner
- Screen rotation disabled after updates
- Login keyboard blocks submit button
- Streaming stops randomly and restarts from beginning
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Radio playback randomly stops mid-broadcast
- Landscape mode video playback unavailable
- Chromecast functionality missing despite promises
- Premium content inaccessible after login
- App freezes during video playback
- Slow performance and unresponsive touch controls
Requested features
8 requests- Chromecast support for streaming to TV
- Ability to skip to specific times in radio broadcasts
- Search functionality by sport
- Landscape mode video viewing
- Access to archived/on-demand games library
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Reduced ads for premium subscribers
- Better session persistence (remember user location)
- Customizable sport preferences and notifications
Varsity Network
Reported bugs
5 issues- App crashing on launch
- Freezing on advertisement screen
- Audio issues like skipping, repeating, and distortion
- Inconsistent behavior across different devices and OS versions
- Notifications not working as expected
Requested features
5 requests- Add favorites/bookmarks to easily access preferred teams
- Improve stability and reliability of the app
- Provide more control over audio playback (pause, rewind, etc.)
- Optimize performance and reduce issues with advertisements
- Add support for background audio playback
In-app purchases
ISU Cyclones
No in-app purchases
Varsity Network
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ISU Cyclones free?
Is Varsity Network free?
Which has better reviews, ISU Cyclones or Varsity Network?
Do ISU Cyclones or Varsity Network have ads?
Which is updated more often, ISU Cyclones or Varsity Network?
Other comparisons
