Comparison

SYFY vs Watch OWN

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SYFY

Stream your favorite TV shows and movies from a variety of networks. Watch the latest episodes the day after they air, catch live TV, and access on-demand content. Requires a TV provider subscription for full access.

Highlights
  • Watch latest episodes day after air
  • Live stream TV 24/7
  • Stream on-demand content from multiple networks
  • Access Premier League, WNBA, PGA, and NASCAR
  • Filter shows by network and genre
  • Sign in with TV provider subscription
Features
Read full description

Overview • The SYFY app is the best place to catch up on the most recent season of your favorite shows, watch live TV, and stream movies and past season content, including Revival, Face Off, Paranormal Witness, AND MANY MORE! • Get started by signing in with your TV subscription (cable, satellite, or digital). The SYFY app supports most TV providers, including DirecTV, Spectrum, Xfinity, Dish, and AT&T. App Features Watch Your Way • Watch the latest episodes of new SYFY shows the day after they air on TV. • Live stream and schedule available 24/7 when signed in with your TV provider. Explore Versant Content • Access to on-demand content from across the Versant family of networks (including USA, SYFY, E!, Oxygen, MSNOW, CNBC, and Golf Channel). • Don't miss a second of the Premier League, the WNBA, A10 hoops, the PGA and LPGA Tours, and NASCAR! • Live stream your favorite Versant networks within the app. • Dedicated page for each network showcasing the hottest series. • Stream recent and throwback favorites, like Law & Order: SVU, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med. • Filter shows by network and genre while browsing. TV Provider Access • Sign in with your TV subscription to gain access to the entire catalog of VOD and Live content. Availability Notice • Versant's family of networks are only available to stream in the US and US territories. • Those outside the US will be unable to watch full episodes or live TV. • If you're traveling, you'll regain full access as soon as you return to the US. Comments or Questions • Please fill out our contact support form at https://help.versantmedia.com/s/contactsupport for assistance. • Please note: Use of the app is limited to the United States and its territories. Video is accessible via 3G, 4G, LTE, and Wi-Fi networks. Data charges may apply. • Privacy Policy: https://www.versantprivacy.com/privacy • Your Privacy Choices: https://www.versantprivacy.com/privacy/cookies • CA Notice: https://www.versantprivacy.com/privacy/california-consumer-privacy-act

About

Watch OWN

Stream OWN shows and content from up to 14 additional networks, including TLC, HGTV, and ID. Access new episodes the same day they air on TV and enjoy thousands of on-demand episodes. Continue watching across devices and save favorites to your list.

Highlights
  • Stream OWN and 14+ networks live
  • Access thousands of on-demand episodes
  • New episodes same day as TV premiere
  • Browse by genre
  • Continue watching across devices
  • Save shows to My List
Features
Read full description

Catch up with your favorite OWN shows anytime, anywhere with the all-new Watch OWN app - and now get access to up to 14 additional networks including TLC, HGTV, ID and more - all in one app. It’s FREE with your pay TV subscription. Link your pay TV provider (cable, satellite, telco, live TV streaming service) to access OWN favorites like Ready to Love, Love & Marriage: Huntsville, The Haves and the Have Nots, Queen Sugar, Put a Ring On It and many more - plus top shows from other networks including Flip or Flop (HGTV), 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? (TLC), Evil Lives Here (ID), Naked and Afraid (Discovery) and more. New episodes are available the same day as they premiere on TV. With Watch OWN You Can: • Stream OWN and more networks LIVE anytime, anywhere on all your favorite devices • Find shows to watch with the live schedule guide • Access thousands of episodes on demand - from current hits to classic favorites • See new episodes of shows on the app the same day and time they premiere on TV • Binge your favorite OWN series and specials including Ready to Love, Love & Marriage: Huntsville, The Haves and the Have Nots, Queen Sugar, Put a Ring On It - and many more! • Get unlimited access to everything the Discovery family of networks has to offer - free with your pay TV subscription Features: • Stream live TV when you log in with your pay TV provider • Watch select episodes and entire seasons of your favorite shows from up to 15 networks! • Browse by genre - from Natural History, Science and Tech to Food, Home and more - to find your favorite shows and discover new ones • Continue watching episodes where you left off across all of your devices • Save shows and episodes to watch later with My List • Compatible with tvOS and Chromecast • Closed-captioning support Requirements: • Available in the U.S. only • Wi-Fi connection recommended • iOS 12 or higher Need help? Visit gohelp.discovery.com. Visitor Agreement: https://corporate.discovery.com/visitor-agreement/ Privacy Notice: https://corporate.discovery.com/privacy-policy California Privacy Notice: https://corporate.discovery.com/privacy-policy/#cappi California Do Not Sell My Personal Info: https://corporate.discovery.com/california_dns We may work with third-party advertising companies and other partners that help us deliver tailored advertisements to you. To opt out of behavioral tracking on mobile devices, you may use the DAA AppChoices Tool, available at http://www.aboutads.info/appchoices.

Screenshots

SYFY4 screens
Watch OWN4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Watch OWN at 4.8 against SYFY's 4.6. Watch OWN also leads on review sentiment (47% vs 35%) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Watch OWN holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17K and 41K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of SYFY's written reviews are positive against 47% of Watch OWN's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SYFY ships an update every 5 weeks, Watch OWN every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SYFY versus Watch OWN: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSYFYWatch OWN
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (17K ratings)4.8 (41K ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.9% of reviews47.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings17K41K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TViPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS16.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size240 MB96 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperVersant Media LLCOWN LLC

Customer experience

SYFY

All ratings16,753 ratings
Positive89.2%
Neutral3.8%
Negative7.0%
Written reviews149 reviews
Positive34.9%
Neutral13.4%
Negative51.7%

Watch OWN

All ratings40,833 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.3%
Written reviews114 reviews
Positive47.4%
Neutral14.0%
Negative38.6%

User reviews

SYFY

From 17K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app for watching shows
  • 🔥 Awesome content selection
  • 👍 User-friendly interface

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Frequent technical issues
  • 💸 Excessive commercials
  • 🔌 Casting problems
  • 🐛 Buggy video player

Watch OWN

From 41K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌟 Inspiring and empowering content
  • 📺 Convenient access to favorite shows
  • ❤️ Commitment to diverse voices and personal growth

Room to improve

  • 🤯 Excessive and repetitive commercials
  • 🐛 Glitches, crashes, and login issues
  • 🤔 Lack of features like rewind/fast-forward and episode tracking

Bugs and requests

SYFY

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes and freezes
  • Video playback errors
  • Inconsistent episode listings
  • Linking cable provider issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to skip commercials
  • Resume playback from where you left off
  • Improved Chromecast/AirPlay support
  • Offline viewing option

Watch OWN

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App freezes during commercial breaks
  • Inability to log in with certain cable providers
  • Inconsistent performance across devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Reduce commercial frequency and duration
  • Implement better episode navigation and resume functionality
  • Expand provider options and improve login experience

In-app purchases

None

SYFY

No in-app purchases

None

Watch OWN

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SYFY free?
SYFY is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Watch OWN free?
Watch OWN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SYFY or Watch OWN?
Watch OWN is rated higher. SYFY averages 4.6 out of 5 from 17K ratings, while Watch OWN averages 4.8 from 41K ratings.
Do SYFY or Watch OWN have ads?
Both SYFY and Watch OWN show ads.
Which is updated more often, SYFY or Watch OWN?
SYFY ships an update every 5 weeks, and Watch OWN every 6 weeks. Most recently, SYFY was updated on November 3, 2026 and Watch OWN on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons