# Kernel vs Purplecast

The clearest difference is rating: Purplecast at 5.0 against Kernel's 4.0. Purplecast also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). Kernel's advantage is ratings volume (223 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kernel sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Purplecast sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Purplecast holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kernel has 223 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Kernel ships an update every 2 weeks, Purplecast weekly. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kernel | Purplecast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (223 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernel/id1452608085/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/purplecast/id6789614229/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **223** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 62.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 34 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Nikias Molina](https://appshunter.io/developer/1684791845) | [Purple Hat Ventures, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1866021309) |

## What reviewers say

### Kernel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernel/id1452608085)

This AI-powered app helps you discover, organize, and share movies and TV shows. Describe a title to find it, get recommendations directly from friends, and track upcoming releases. It also shows you where to stream content across various services.

**Highlights:** AI-powered search by description, Direct friend recommendations, Create movie/TV show playlists, Automatic release tracking and notifications, Streaming service availability, Widgets and Apple Watch support

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $15.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Gorgeous, minimalist design
- 🚀 Simple, clean, beautiful and intuitive design
- 💡 Great app to keep track of movies
- 💡 Fantastic UI, looks great and works smooth

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Missing key features like rating movies/shows
- 🐛 Notifications don't work, app is unresponsive
- 🐛 Inconsistent, buggy, and crashes often
- 🐛 Annoying notifications prompt on every app launch

**Reported bugs**

- Apple Watch app doesn't work, shows blank screen
- Release dates are sometimes inaccurate
- Can't remove movies from 'Upcoming' playlist after release

**Requested features**

- Add ability to rate movies and shows
- Implement a 'mark all as seen' feature for TV shows
- Allow sorting playlists manually
- Add support for more streaming services
- Integrate Rotten Tomatoes ratings


### Purplecast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/purplecast/id6789614229)

This app helps you track TV shows, movies, video games, and podcasts in one place. Organize your media, discover new content with personalized recommendations, and engage with a community of fellow entertainment enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Track TV shows by season and episode, Organize video game playlists, Follow podcasts and track episodes, Discover personalized recommendations, Rate, review, and discuss content, Sync library across devices, Import and export entertainment data

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Purplecast Plus | $2.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kernel free?

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

### Is Purplecast free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Kernel or Purplecast?

Purplecast is rated higher. Kernel averages 4.0 out of 5 from 223 ratings, while Purplecast averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Kernel or Purplecast have ads?

Neither Kernel nor Purplecast shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kernel or Purplecast?

Kernel ships an update every 2 weeks, and Purplecast weekly. Most recently, Kernel was updated on August 26, 2026 and Purplecast on September 9, 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.*