# STIRR TV vs The Explorers

The clearest difference is rating: The Explorers at 4.4 against STIRR TV's 3.1. The Explorers also leads on review sentiment (55% vs 17%). STIRR TV's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (439 vs 88). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Explorers sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. STIRR TV asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Explorers holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 439 and 88 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of STIRR TV's written reviews are positive against 55% of The Explorers's.

STIRR TV ships an update every 2 months, The Explorers every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | STIRR TV | The Explorers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (439 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stirr-tv/id1426824242/reviews) | **[4.4 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-explorers/id1436285774/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **439** | 88 |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | **55.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 104 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Thinking Media, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1727442423) | [The Explorers Network](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475751692) |

## What reviewers say

### STIRR TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stirr-tv/id1426824242)

Stream over 100 live TV channels for free, including local events, breaking news, movies, and TV shows. Enjoy a wide variety of entertainment genres from action and sci-fi to documentaries and live music concerts. Experience live local programming and a growing on-demand library.

**Highlights:** 100+ live TV channels, Live local events, Breaking news coverage, Movies and TV shows, Live music performances, On-demand library

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great channels and adding more
- 🚀 Nice app for local news on the go
- 👍 Free and doesn't require a profile

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes or crashes frequently
- 🐛 Unreliable, doesn't work consistently
- 🐛 Glitchy, buggy, and unstable
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with Apple devices
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate, poor UI/UX

**Reported bugs**

- Constant buffering and loading issues
- Repeating ads and content playback issues
- Channels not loading or showing incorrect content
- App crashing or not opening at all

**Requested features**

- Add search functionality
- Improve channel guide and navigation
- Expand local channel coverage
- Add Chromecast support


### The Explorers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-explorers/id1436285774)

Explore and share Earth's wonders through photos and videos. Join a global community of creators and scientists to document biodiversity and natural heritage. Discover location-based content and contribute your own media to a growing planet inventory.

**Highlights:** Explore location-based content on a world map, Follow other Explorers' discoveries, Post photos and videos in original size, Private messaging with friends and Explorers, Zoom feature for detailed photo viewing, Access content up to 8K HDR with premium

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Explorers+ | $2.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is STIRR TV free?

STIRR TV is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Explorers free?

The Explorers is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, STIRR TV or The Explorers?

The Explorers is rated higher. STIRR TV averages 3.1 out of 5 from 439 ratings, while The Explorers averages 4.4 from 88 ratings.

### Do STIRR TV or The Explorers have ads?

Both STIRR TV and The Explorers show ads.

### Which is updated more often, STIRR TV or The Explorers?

STIRR TV ships an update every 2 months, and The Explorers every 6 weeks. Most recently, STIRR TV was updated on October 25, 2026 and The Explorers on October 24, 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.*
