# Netflix vs Apple TV

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Apple TV at none against Netflix's 11. Apple TV also leads on iOS requirement (10.2 vs 18.0). Netflix's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (59% vs 43%). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Netflix against 4.8 for Apple TV. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.3M and 1.9M respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Netflix's written reviews are positive against 43% of Apple TV's.

Netflix ships an update weekly, Apple TV every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Netflix | Apple TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (7.3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netflix/id363590051/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-tv/id1174078549/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.3M** | 1.9M |
| Positive reviews | **58.7% of reviews** | 43.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#10** | — |
| Size | 194 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **10.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Netflix, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/363590054) | [Apple](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) |

## What reviewers say

### Netflix

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netflix/id363590051)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Free · Entertainment, #14 Top Grossing · Entertainment, #78 Top Free, #109 Top Grossing (US App Store)

Stream award-winning series, movies, documentaries, and stand-up specials from around the world. Get personalized recommendations and enjoy a safe kids' experience. Watch on your device while traveling or taking a break.

**Highlights:** Award-winning series, movies, documentaries, Personalized recommendations, Kids' safe watching experience, Stream on any device, New titles added regularly, Notifications for new releases

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Netflix | $19.99 | per month |
| Netflix 2 Screens - Unlimited Streaming | $19.99 | per month |
| Netflix Standard | $19.99 | per month |
| Netflix 4 Screens - Unlimited Streaming | $26.99 | per month |
| Netflix Premium | $26.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great selection of movies and TV shows
- 👍 Convenient offline viewing
- 💡 Customizable profiles for different users
- 🚀 Smooth streaming experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and bugs in the app
- 🔋 High data usage and battery drain
- 🤔 Inconsistent rating system and content availability
- 😡 Removing popular shows and movies

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Offline downloads not working as expected
- Profile switching issues
- Playback controls not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Add a teen-friendly section
- Allow removing items from 'Continue Watching'
- Improve content management and availability
- Provide better account management options


### Apple TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-tv/id1174078549)

This app is a central hub for exclusive original series, movies, and live sports like Formula 1 and MLB. It also aggregates content from your favorite streaming services, allowing you to buy or rent titles and discover new shows.

**Highlights:** Exclusive Apple Originals, Live Formula 1 & MLB, Buy or rent movies, Aggregate streaming services, Personalized recommendations, Continue Watching feature

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Decent quality viewing experience
- 👍 Impressive 4K and audio quality
- 🤩 Fantastic original content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable app
- 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 💰 Misleading pricing and pay-to-watch content
- 🤔 Lack of user-friendly features
- 😡 Terrible customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Playback issues and random freezes
- Incorrect episode/content display
- Syncing problems across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to save/bookmark content for later
- Improved content organization and navigation
- Sync playback progress across devices
- Chromecast/casting support
- User profiles and personalized recommendations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Netflix free?

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

### Is Apple TV free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Netflix or Apple TV?

Apple TV is rated higher. Netflix averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7.3M ratings, while Apple TV averages 4.8 from 1.9M ratings.

### Do Netflix or Apple TV have ads?

Both Netflix and Apple TV show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Netflix or Apple TV?

Netflix ships an update weekly, and Apple TV every 2 months. Most recently, Netflix was updated on September 24, 2026 and Apple TV on September 24, 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.*