# NPO Start vs Bladenbox

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NPO Start at none against Bladenbox's 10. NPO Start also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). Bladenbox's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bladenbox sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. NPO Start asks for nothing beyond the download.

NPO Start ships an update fortnightly, Bladenbox every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NPO Start | Bladenbox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npo-start/id323998316/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5** | — |
| Positive reviews | 4.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 77 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stichting Nederlandse Publieke Omroep](https://appshunter.io/developer/323998319) | [B.V. Bondis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1518814477) |

## What reviewers say

### NPO Start

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npo-start/id323998316)

This is a free streaming platform offering a wide range of Dutch content, including documentaries, series, and films. Enjoy relatable and authentic stories anytime, anywhere, on any device. Personalize your experience with recommendations and saved favorites.

**Highlights:** Stream all NPO programs, Live and on-demand content, Free streaming on any device, Personalized recommendations, Save favorite programs, Continue watching where you left off

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good app
- 🚀 Lots of content available

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App often crashes or freezes
- 🔌 Streaming issues, app not working properly
- 🤖 Poorly designed, lacking features
- 🚫 Many programs not available outside of Netherlands

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Frequent app crashes or freezes
- Streaming problems, video playback not working
- Incompatibility with certain devices/platforms

**Requested features**

- Add subtitles/captions
- Improve search functionality
- Allow downloading of programs for offline viewing
- Better Chromecast/AirPlay support


### Bladenbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bladenbox/id1105377702)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maand abonnement Oase | $2.99 | per month |
| Kiind 22 BLOEI | $7.99 | one-time |
| Kiind 23 SPELEN | $7.99 | one-time |
| Kiind 24 OER | $7.99 | one-time |
| Kiind magazine EB21 | $10.99 | one-time |
| Kiind magazine EB2 | $10.99 | one-time |
| Oase 107 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Oase 109 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Oase 108 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Oase 110 | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NPO Start free?

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

### Is Bladenbox free?

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

### Do NPO Start or Bladenbox have ads?

Neither NPO Start nor Bladenbox shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NPO Start or Bladenbox?

NPO Start ships an update fortnightly, and Bladenbox every 3 months. Most recently, NPO Start was updated on September 25, 2026 and Bladenbox on June 10, 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.*