# ISU Cyclones vs Varsity Network

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). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ISU Cyclones | Varsity Network |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (387 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isu-cyclones/id1148751660/reviews)** | [2.9 (512 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/varsity-network/id1574519982/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 387 | **512** |
| Positive reviews | **35.4% of reviews** | 23.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 269 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SIDEARM Sports](https://appshunter.io/developer/329195539) | [Learfield Communications, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/551780794) |

## What reviewers say

### ISU Cyclones

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isu-cyclones/id1148751660)

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.

**Highlights:** Exclusive video content, Interactive social media integration, Live scores and stats, Play-by-play information, Custom Gameday notifications

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Varsity Network

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/varsity-network/id1574519982)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ISU Cyclones free?

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

### Is Varsity Network free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ISU Cyclones or Varsity Network?

ISU Cyclones is rated higher. ISU Cyclones averages 4.3 out of 5 from 387 ratings, while Varsity Network averages 2.9 from 512 ratings.

### Do ISU Cyclones or Varsity Network have ads?

Varsity Network shows ads; ISU Cyclones does not.

### Which is updated more often, ISU Cyclones or Varsity Network?

ISU Cyclones ships an update every 5 weeks, and Varsity Network every 2 months. Most recently, ISU Cyclones was updated on October 5, 2026 and Varsity Network on October 14, 2026.

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