# TED Talks vs Fathomly

The clearest difference is rating: TED Talks at 4.6 against Fathomly's 4.0. TED Talks also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (10K vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fathomly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. TED Talks asks for nothing beyond the download.

TED Talks holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TED Talks has 10K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

TED Talks ships an update every 2 weeks, Fathomly every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TED Talks | Fathomly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ted-talks-watch-and-learn/id376183339/reviews)** | [4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fathomly-learn-by-doing/id6800842023/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **10K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 43.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 112 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [TED Conferences LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/376183342) | [jake green](https://appshunter.io/developer/1845576374) |

## What reviewers say

### TED Talks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ted-talks-watch-and-learn/id376183339)

Access thousands of inspiring and informative videos on a wide range of topics. Get personalized recommendations, watch with subtitles in over 100 languages, and download content for offline viewing. Stay curious and informed with this educational resource.

**Highlights:** Personalized recommendations, Subtitles in over 100 languages, Browse by topic or curator picks, Stream to Apple TV with AirPlay, Download videos for offline viewing, Watchlist for later, Surprise Me! feature

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great content
- 👍 Inspiring and thought-provoking
- 📚 Variety of topics
- 🎧 Convenient for listening on the go

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🔍 Poor search functionality
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔇 Audio/video playback issues
- 📥 Download feature not working as expected

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Videos fail to load or play
- Saved talks disappear from user's list
- Syncing issues with user accounts
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add ability to create and manage playlists
- Implement background audio playback
- Improve Chromecast support
- Add more customization options (e.g., video playback speed, dark mode)
- Enhance discoverability of new and relevant content


### Fathomly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fathomly-learn-by-doing/id6800842023)

Transform any YouTube video into an interactive learning experience. This app uses cognitive science principles like active recall and spaced repetition to help you retain information long-term. It offers AI-generated summaries, a personal takeaway gallery, and adaptive testing to master any subject.

**Highlights:** Interactive learning paths from YouTube videos, AI video summaries, Active recall and spaced repetition, Adaptive testing, Personal takeaway gallery, Topic debate feature

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fathomly Scholar | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Fathomly Scholar | $9.99 | per month |
| Fathomly Scholar | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TED Talks free?

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

### Is Fathomly free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TED Talks or Fathomly?

TED Talks is rated higher. TED Talks averages 4.6 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while Fathomly averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do TED Talks or Fathomly have ads?

Neither TED Talks nor Fathomly shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TED Talks or Fathomly?

TED Talks ships an update every 2 weeks, and Fathomly every 4 weeks. Most recently, TED Talks was updated on November 6, 2026 and Fathomly 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.*