Comparison

Means TV vs Watermelon+

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

Watermelon+

This streaming platform showcases films from marginalized and underrepresented communities, featuring documentaries, narratives, and Palestinian cinema. It offers early access to new releases and a curated collection of impactful stories.

Highlights
  • Stream films from marginalized communities
  • Award-winning documentaries
  • Festival favorites and narratives
  • Exclusive Palestinian cinema collection
  • Early access to new releases
Read full description

Watermelon+ is a streaming platform amplifying bold voices from marginalized and underrepresented communities. From award-winning documentaries and festival favorites to unforgettable narratives and hidden gems, Watermelon+ delivers powerful, entertaining stories on our own terms. Get early access to new releases and explore the most definitive collection of Palestinian cinema ever assembled. To access all features and content you can subscribe to Watermelon+ on a monthly or yearly basis with an auto-renewing subscription right inside the app.* Pricing can vary by region and will be confirmed before purchase in the app. In app subscriptions will automatically renew at the end of their cycle. * 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. Your account will be charged for renewal at least 24-hours prior to the end of the current cycle. Cancellations are incurred by disabling auto-renewal. Terms of Service: https://www.watermelonplus.com/tos Privacy Policy: https://www.watermelonplus.com/privacy

Screenshots

Means TV4 screens
Watermelon+4 screens

Verdict

The call

Means TV and Watermelon+ are too close to call on the numbers: across 10 compared parameters — price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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 and Watermelon+ sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Means TV against 5.0 for Watermelon+. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 403 and 175 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of Means TV's written reviews are positive against 97% of Watermelon+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Means TV ships an update every 6 weeks, Watermelon+ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Means TV versus Watermelon+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMeans TVWatermelon+
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (403 ratings)5.0 (175 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.2% of reviews97.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings403 — better175
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple TV
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB78 MB
Age rating17+17+
Developermeans, llcMaljack Productions, Inc

Customer experience

Means TV

All ratings394 ratings
Positive99.2%
Neutral0.5%
Negative0.3%
Written reviews51 reviews
Positive90.2%
Neutral7.8%
Negative2.0%

Watermelon+

All ratings173 ratings
Positive99.4%
Neutral0.6%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews103 reviews
Positive97.1%
Neutral1.0%
Negative1.9%

User reviews

Means TV

From 403 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✊ Worker-owned cooperative business model
  • 📰 Quality leftist news and documentary content
  • 🎯 Anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist perspective
  • 💰 Fair compensation for creators
  • 🎬 Diverse range of educational content

Room to improve

  • 📉 Declining content volume and frequency
  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
  • 🔄 Poor session persistence across devices
  • ⚠️ Inconsistent video playback issues
  • 🔐 Login functionality problems

Watermelon+

From 175 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent app
  • 👍 New favorite streaming platform
  • 👍 Amazing resource
  • 👍 High quality movies
  • 👍 Honest review

Room to improve

  • ❓Content for kids

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

Watermelon+

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • None mentioned

Requested features

1 request
  • Content for children

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Means TV

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription$109.991 Year
10 purchases

Watermelon+

Subscriptions2
  • Watermelon+ Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Watermelon+ Yearly$89.991 Year
One-time8
  • Watermelon Pictures - 199$1.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 499$4.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 699$6.99
Show 5 more
  • Watermelon Pictures - 999$9.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 1299$12.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 1499$14.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 1999$19.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 2499$24.99

Questions

Is Means TV free?
Means TV is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Watermelon+ free?
Watermelon+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Means TV or Watermelon+?
Watermelon+ is rated higher. Means TV averages 5.0 out of 5 from 403 ratings, while Watermelon+ averages 5.0 from 175 ratings.
Do Means TV or Watermelon+ have ads?
Neither Means TV nor Watermelon+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Means TV or Watermelon+?
Means TV ships an update every 6 weeks, and Watermelon+ every 2 months. Most recently, Means TV was updated on October 26, 2026 and Watermelon+ on October 24, 2026.

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