# ESPN Chicago vs CHSN

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ESPN Chicago at none against CHSN's 5. ESPN Chicago also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (41% vs 26%). CHSN's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 10 months) and chart position (#23 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CHSN sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. ESPN Chicago asks for nothing beyond the download.

ESPN Chicago holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.4K and 3.3K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of ESPN Chicago's written reviews are positive against 26% of CHSN's.

ESPN Chicago ships an update every 10 months, CHSN fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ESPN Chicago | CHSN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/espn-chicago/id1495104308/reviews)** | [4.3 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chsn/id6705122525/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.4K** | 3.3K |
| Positive reviews | **40.9% of reviews** | 25.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#23** |
| Size | 26 MB | 229 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GOOD KARMA BROADCASTING LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1445950552) | [Chicago Sports Broadcasting LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769736679) |

## What reviewers say

### ESPN Chicago

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/espn-chicago/id1495104308)

Stay connected with Chicago's vibrant sports scene. Engage in discussions and debates about local teams with popular hosts. Experience the pulse of one of the nation's most talked-about sports cities.

**Highlights:** Live sports talk radio, Interactive host discussions, Debate latest team news, Chicago sports coverage, National sports stage updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎉 Entertaining content
- 🌍 Listen anywhere
- 📻 Great radio lineup
- 🐻 Bears coverage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App randomly turns on
- ⏯️ Playback issues (pausing, rewinding)
- 📢 Unwanted audio playback
- 🔍 Navigation/UX problems
- 🚫 Blackout issues for out-of-market users

**Reported bugs**

- App randomly activates and plays audio
- Podcast episodes not playing in order
- Content disappearing from the app
- Buffering and connectivity issues

**Requested features**

- Podcast playback in chronological order
- Pause and rewind functionality
- Improved auto-play behavior


### CHSN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chsn/id6705122525)

**Currently charting:** #23 Top Grossing · Sports (US App Store)

Access live games, highlights, and real-time stats for Chicago's major sports teams. Enjoy 24/7 multisport programming and in-depth coverage of local sports news and shows. Stay connected to your favorite Chicago teams anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Live game streaming, Game highlights, Real-time stats, Team updates, Multisport programming, Chicago sports shows

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| White Sox Monthly Team Pass | $19.99 | per month |
| Bulls Monthly Team Pass | $19.99 | per month |
| Blackhawks Monthly Team Pass | $19.99 | per month |
| All 3 teams - Monthly | $29.99 | per month |
| Annual Plan | $349.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Reliable content
- 🚀 Solid streaming experience
- 💡 Vertical feed is awesome

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy, choppy video feed
- 🔌 Casting/AirPlay issues
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🤔 Limited device compatibility

**Reported bugs**

- Video freezes and needs refreshing
- Incorrect location detection
- Live TV not working in some areas

**Requested features**

- On-demand game replays
- Downloadable app for smart TVs
- Multi-device login support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ESPN Chicago free?

ESPN Chicago is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CHSN free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ESPN Chicago or CHSN?

ESPN Chicago is rated higher. ESPN Chicago averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.4K ratings, while CHSN averages 4.3 from 3.3K ratings.

### Do ESPN Chicago or CHSN have ads?

Both ESPN Chicago and CHSN show ads.

### Which is updated more often, ESPN Chicago or CHSN?

ESPN Chicago ships an update every 10 months, and CHSN fortnightly. Most recently, ESPN Chicago was updated on September 26, 2026 and CHSN on September 25, 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.*