# Netflix vs iTunes Store

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iTunes Store at none against Netflix's 11. iTunes Store also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 26.0). Netflix's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months) and chart position (#16 vs unranked). On price, rating 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. iTunes Store 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 iTunes Store. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.5M and 2.1M respectively.

Netflix ships an update weekly, iTunes Store every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Netflix | iTunes Store |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (7.5M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netflix/id363590051/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.1M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itunes-store/id915061235/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.5M** | 2.1M |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Paid** |
| Best chart rank | **#16** | — |
| Size | 203 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Netflix, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/363590054) | [Apple Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) |

## What reviewers say

### Netflix

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

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Grossing · Entertainment, #21 Top Free · Entertainment, #70 Top Free, #97 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

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**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


### iTunes Store

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itunes-store/id915061235)

Access a vast library of music, from new releases to indie hits and classics across all genres. Purchase and download songs, albums, and ringtones instantly on any device, with the ability to re-download past purchases.

**Highlights:** Explore 100+ million DRM-free songs, Browse by artist, album, genre, Search and select ringtones, Pre-order new releases, Download and watch anywhere, Re-download past purchases

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💿 Ability to purchase and own music
- 🎶 Great selection of music
- 🎨 Variety of music genres
- 🔍 Convenient music discovery
- 🔊 High-quality audio

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficult music discovery and search
- 🗂️ Fragmented music library management
- 🔒 Restricted access to purchased content
- 💰 Expensive song/album pricing
- 🔄 Disappearing purchased content

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent syncing of purchased content
- Unreliable download and playback of songs
- Buggy user interface and navigation

**Requested features**

- Add sorting and filtering options for albums
- Implement a wishlist or bookmarking feature
- Provide more control over music playback
- Improve integration with other Apple services
- Offer more affordable pricing options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Netflix free?

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

### Is iTunes Store free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Netflix or iTunes Store?

iTunes Store is rated higher. Netflix averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7.5M ratings, while iTunes Store averages 4.8 from 2.1M ratings.

### Do Netflix or iTunes Store have ads?

Netflix shows ads; iTunes Store does not.

### Which is updated more often, Netflix or iTunes Store?

Netflix ships an update weekly, and iTunes Store every 5 months. Most recently, Netflix was updated on October 26, 2026 and iTunes Store on October 26, 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.*
