SYFY vs BBC America
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SYFY
Stream your favorite TV shows and movies on demand, including the latest episodes the day after they air. Access live TV and a vast library of content from multiple networks. Requires a TV provider subscription for full access.
- Watch latest episodes day after airing
- Live stream TV 24/7
- On-demand content from multiple networks
- Filter shows by network and genre
- Sign in with TV provider subscription
- Access content in US and US territories
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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
BBC America
Stream full episodes of popular BBC America series like Killing Eve and Top Gear. Access video extras, sneak peeks, and live TV with your cable provider login. Resume watching where you left off.
- Full episode streaming
- Video extras and sneak peeks
- Live TV streaming
- Cable/satellite provider login
- Resume watching
- Searchable library
- Airplay/casting support
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Get caught up in your favorite BBC America shows with full episodes, video extras, and sneak peeks at upcoming series. Log in with your cable or satellite provider to watch BBC America LIVE or full episodes of Killing Eve, Top Gear, The Graham Norton Show, and more of your favorite series. Plus you can search the library and track recently-viewed episodes and resume where you left off. Most full episodes require a cable or satellite login, though season premieres are sometimes made available with no login required. You can also sample trailers and behind-the-scenes clips. New episodes are available in-season, usually the day after broadcast. Use your iPhone or iPad to Airplay or cast to your television.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SYFY at 4.6 against BBC America's 1.8. SYFY also leads on review sentiment (35% vs 5%) and ratings volume (17K vs 590). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SYFY holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SYFY has 17K ratings behind it against 590, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of SYFY's written reviews are positive against 5% of BBC America's.
SYFY ships an update every 5 weeks, BBC America monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SYFY | BBC America |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (17K ratings) — better | 1.8 (590 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 35.3% of reviews — better | 5.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 17K — better | 590 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Monthly — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 240 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Versant Media LLC | BBC America |
Customer experience
SYFY
BBC America
User reviews
SYFY
From 17K App Store ratingsWhat 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
BBC America
From 590 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ⭐ Great app for watching shows
- 🚀 Streams in high quality
- 👍 Straightforward and easy to use
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🤯 Frustrating navigation and controls
- 💸 Too many ads and interruptions
- 🤔 Inconsistent content availability
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
BBC America
Reported bugs
4 issues- Login issues and sign-in problems
- Playback freezes and restarts randomly
- Closed captions not working as expected
- Casting and mirroring features broken
Requested features
4 requests- Add search and browse functionality
- Improve rewind/fast-forward controls
- Provide a paid ad-free subscription option
- Sync playback progress across devices
In-app purchases
SYFY
No in-app purchases
BBC America
No in-app purchases








