# A&E Crime Central vs TruBlu

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TruBlu at 85% against A&E Crime Central's 14%. TruBlu also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). A&E Crime Central's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. A&E Crime Central sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. TruBlu asks for nothing beyond the download.

TruBlu holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 187 and 842 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of A&E Crime Central's written reviews are positive against 85% of TruBlu's.

A&E Crime Central ships an update monthly, TruBlu every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | A&E Crime Central | TruBlu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (187 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-and-e-crime-central/id1534755973/reviews) | **[4.6 (842 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trublu/id6443777497/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 187 | **842** |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | **84.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | Subscription |
| Size | 106 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [A+E Global Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/366448555) | [TruBlu Factual Streaming Network, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1649176085) |

## What reviewers say

### A&E Crime Central

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-and-e-crime-central/id1534755973)

Access a vast library of A&E's true crime documentaries and series, all commercial-free. Stream over 1,500 titles, download episodes for offline viewing, and discover new content added weekly. Enjoy unlimited streaming without ad interruptions.

**Highlights:** Commercial-free streaming, Over 1,500 true crime titles, Offline episode downloads, New content added weekly, Personalized watchlist, Search and curated browsing

**Features:** Vision Pro support, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A&E Crime Central | $5.99 | per month |
| A&E Crime Central | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good content for true crime fans
- 👍 Some users enjoy the shows
- 👍 App has some bingeable shows

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App frequently crashes
- 🐛 Login issues and errors
- 🐛 Subscription not recognized
- 🐛 Content is outdated and limited
- 🐛 Missing many episodes/seasons

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes constantly
- App freezes and won't open
- Subscription status not recognized
- Login/sign-in issues
- Videos reset or skip in the middle of playback

**Requested features**

- Add fast forward/rewind options
- Implement picture-in-picture (PIP)
- Improve background playback functionality
- Update app content with current episodes
- Make search more robust (keywords, episode names)


### TruBlu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trublu/id6443777497)

Stream gripping crime programs and documentaries featuring prominent personalities in investigation. Explore scams, predator catches, and a variety of true crime content. Subscribe for full access to all features and content.

**Highlights:** Crime programs and documentaries, Spearheaded by Chris Hansen, Scam and predator investigations, Factual streaming network, Monthly and yearly subscription options

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great content
- 🚀 Smooth streaming
- 💯 Excellent value
- 🙌 Supportive of Chris Hansen's work
- 🎥 Variety of true crime shows

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🔍 Limited content beyond Takedown with Chris Hansen
- 🔊 Censored language in paid subscription
- 🔍 Difficult to find/access account settings

**Reported bugs**

- Playback issues when resuming episodes
- Inconsistent availability of subtitles/captions
- Billing/subscription management problems

**Requested features**

- More episodes of Takedown with Chris Hansen
- Improved organization and filtering of content
- Ability to skip ahead/rewind easily during playback
- Offline viewing or download option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is A&E Crime Central free?

A&E Crime Central is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is TruBlu free?

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

### Which has better reviews, A&E Crime Central or TruBlu?

TruBlu is rated higher. A&E Crime Central averages 3.4 out of 5 from 187 ratings, while TruBlu averages 4.6 from 842 ratings.

### Do A&E Crime Central or TruBlu have ads?

Neither A&E Crime Central nor TruBlu shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, A&E Crime Central or TruBlu?

A&E Crime Central ships an update monthly, and TruBlu every 2 months. Most recently, A&E Crime Central was updated on November 7, 2026 and TruBlu on November 3, 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.*