# TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide vs Virgin Media Play

The clearest difference is rating: TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide at 4.3 against Virgin Media Play's 2.3. TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide also leads on ratings volume (69 vs 3) and review sentiment (20% vs 12%). Virgin Media Play's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Virgin Media Play asks for nothing beyond the download.

TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide has 69 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide's written reviews are positive against 12% of Virgin Media Play's.

TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide ships an update every 2 weeks, Virgin Media Play monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide | Virgin Media Play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (69 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tvguidecouk-tv-guide/id317212648/reviews)** | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virgin-media-play/id602597705/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **69** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **20.2% of reviews** | 11.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 3 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [DIGITALBOX PUBLISHING LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1773311513) | [TV3 TELEVISION NETWORK LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/464364337) |

## What reviewers say

### TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tvguidecouk-tv-guide/id317212648)

Access comprehensive TV listings for UK channels. Stay updated with the latest programming, connect with a community, and utilize helpful tools. Designed for ease of use and continuous improvement based on user feedback.

**Highlights:** UK TV listings, Latest news, Community connection, User-friendly design, Tools for users

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TV Guide Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| TV Guide Annual Subscription | $25.49 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔍 Helpful TV listings
- 📺 Useful features like reminders and watchlists

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Intrusive and excessive ads
- 🙈 Inability to see TV listings due to ads
- 🐌 Slow performance and freezing issues
- 🔄 Constant need to update and redownload app

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Listings not matching actual TV schedules
- Channels not showing up in listings

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize channel order
- Offline TV listings access
- Option to pay for ad-free experience


### Virgin Media Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virgin-media-play/id602597705)

Stream popular TV shows, dramas, and Irish content live or on demand. Enjoy features like restarting live shows, accessing all channels, and improved accessibility services. Discover new titles and search for favorites.

**Highlights:** Stream live and on-demand TV shows, Restart live shows from the beginning, Access all Virgin Media channels, Improved accessibility (subtitles, audio description), Watch major shows minutes after airing, Browse and search for new titles and favorites

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide free?

TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Virgin Media Play free?

Virgin Media Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide or Virgin Media Play?

TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide is rated higher. TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide averages 4.3 out of 5 from 69 ratings, while Virgin Media Play averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide or Virgin Media Play have ads?

Both TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide and Virgin Media Play show ads.

### Which is updated more often, TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide or Virgin Media Play?

TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide ships an update every 2 weeks, and Virgin Media Play monthly. Most recently, TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide was updated on October 31, 2026 and Virgin Media Play on November 6, 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.*