Comparison

Means TV vs Talking Cities

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Means TV

This worker-owned streaming service offers an ad-free library of independent movies, original shows, documentaries, and news. It provides a curated, ethically sourced content experience without algorithmic recommendations or data tracking.

Highlights
  • Worker-owned and ad-free platform
  • Expansive library of movies, shows, and documentaries
  • Independent news content
  • Ethically sourced and human-curated library
  • Strict data privacy policy
  • Stream on multiple devices and smart TVs
  • New content added regularly
Read full description

Nearly all film and television made in the United States is produced by just 5 corporations. Means TV is here to change that. Means TV is 100% worker-owned and ad-free, with a constantly expanding library of movies, original shows, documentaries, news and more. Reasons you’ll love Means TV: - A premium ad-free experience. - Totally independent and completely subscriber funded. No venture capital or rich guys pulling the strings. - Access to daily news content with an independent voice. - Ethically sourced and human-curated library of content from around the world. No algorithms telling you what to watch or tracking your habits. - A strict data privacy policy. We’ll never sell your data to make a quick buck. - Watch at home or on the go. Enjoy Means TV on the big screen using AirPlay, Chromecast, or your Smart TV. - We’re adding new content all the time! Browse new titles or search for your favorites, and stream videos right on your smartphone, tablet or computer. - A subscription to Means TV helps to build a long-standing, worker-owned media infrastructure that reflects and empowers working class people. SUBSCRIBE: To access all features and content you can subscribe to Means TV on a monthly or yearly basis with an auto-renewing subscription right inside the app.* *All payments will be paid through your iTunes Account and may be managed under Account Settings after the initial payment. Subscription payments will automatically renew unless deactivated at least 24-hours before the end of the current cycle. Means TV offers an auto-renewing subscription: You'll receive unlimited access to content on all your devices. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Pricing can vary be region and will be confirmed before purchase in the app. Monthly Subscription automatically renews unless canceled within 24-hours of the end of the current billing period. You can turn off auto-renewal at any time in account settings, but you must do so at least 24 hours before the end of the current term. View renewal date, manage, or cancel subscription any time in Apple ID account settings. For more information see our: Terms of Service: https://means.tv/pages/terms-conditions Privacy Policy: https://means.tv/pages/privacy-policy

About

Talking Cities

Read full description

Talking Cities is your hub for local news. We’re currently in two Illinois communities: Aurora and Oswego. We’re always expanding to other areas so stay tuned & let us know if you’re interested in bringing Talking Cities to your community! From political news to local happenings, Talking Cities covers it all. We publish new stories every week and stay up-to-date on community events and hot-spots. On the Talking Cities app, you’ll get the scoop on local events (so you won’t miss anything exciting going on) and hear personal interviews with people you should definitely know about. Talking Cities started in 2021 with a goal to bring truth to locals who might not be in the loop with everything going on in their community. With the app, you can: Comment and engage with top local stories Submit requests to be featured on Talking Cities Watch videos from all across Talking Cities, no matter what city you’re in Share a tip for coverage on local happenings

Screenshots

Means TV4 screens
Talking Cities2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Talking Cities at none against Means TV's 2. Talking Cities also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Means TV's advantage is device support. On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Means TV sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Talking Cities asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Means TV versus Talking Cities: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMeans TVTalking Cities
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (405 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews90.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings405 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks—
AdsNo—
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better—
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB36 MB
Age rating17+12+
Developermeans, llcJimi Allen Photography, Inc.

Bugs and requests

Means TV

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Picture-in-Picture mode causes audio duplication and video disappearance
  • App requires restart when switching between devices
  • Video playback fails with HTTP 500 error
  • Cannot exit app and return to previous position
  • Video plays without picture on some devices
Show 5 more
  • Subscription button non-functional
  • App crashes on iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • Slow performance on older Apple TVs
  • Sign-in required repeatedly across devices
  • App doesn't return to last watched position

Requested features

13 requests
  • Consistent daily news programming (morning and evening)
  • Playback speed controls (2x, 3x speed)
  • Remember watch position and resume playback
  • Comprehensive subtitle/closed caption support
  • Creator channel navigation from video player
Show 8 more
  • Filter to show only subscribed creators
  • Mark videos as watched
  • Disable auto-play option
  • UI refresh for better navigation efficiency
  • Lighthearted non-political content (cooking shows, kids programs, meditation)
  • Book review series on critical theory
  • Spacebar pause functionality
  • Video download capability for offline viewing

Talking Cities

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Means TV

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription$109.991 Year
None

Talking Cities

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Means TV free?
Means TV is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Talking Cities free?
Talking Cities is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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