# SYFY vs CBS

The clearest difference is rating: CBS at 4.8 against SYFY's 4.6. CBS also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks) and chart position (#163 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CBS holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17K and 71K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of SYFY's written reviews are positive against 36% of CBS's.

SYFY ships an update every 5 weeks, CBS fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SYFY | CBS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/syfy/id378092432/reviews) | **[4.8 (71K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cbs/id1540866664/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 17K | **71K** |
| Positive reviews | 34.0% of reviews | **36.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#163** |
| Size | 240 MB | 240 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Versant Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840809836) | [CBS Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/295669712) |

## What reviewers say

### SYFY

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/syfy/id378092432)

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:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### CBS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cbs/id1540866664)

**Currently charting:** #163 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Stream the latest episodes of popular shows for free without a login. Access full seasons and live TV by signing in with your cable provider. Enjoy news, sports, and major live events on demand.

**Highlights:** Stream new episodes for free, No login required for new episodes, Watch on any device, Next-day episode streaming, Live TV with cable provider login, Access full seasons

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 High-quality content
- 👍 Convenient app experience
- 💡 Useful features like live TV and on-demand shows
- 🙌 Consistent and reliable performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Region restrictions preventing access in certain countries
- 📺 Too many commercials interrupting viewing experience
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and technical issues
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find desired content

**Reported bugs**

- Fatal errors when trying to watch shows
- Playback issues like freezing, restarting, and losing progress
- Compatibility problems on certain devices and platforms

**Requested features**

- Resume playback from where user left off
- Expand content availability globally
- Reduce number of commercials or provide ad-free option
- Improve search functionality and content organization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SYFY free?

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

### Is CBS free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SYFY or CBS?

CBS is rated higher. SYFY averages 4.6 out of 5 from 17K ratings, while CBS averages 4.8 from 71K ratings.

### Do SYFY or CBS have ads?

Both SYFY and CBS show ads.

### Which is updated more often, SYFY or CBS?

SYFY ships an update every 5 weeks, and CBS fortnightly. Most recently, SYFY was updated on October 17, 2026 and CBS on October 17, 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.*