# SYFY vs The CW

The clearest difference is rating: SYFY at 4.6 against The CW's 3.2. SYFY also leads on review sentiment (34% vs 11%) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). The CW's advantage is chart position (#195 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17K and 22K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of SYFY's written reviews are positive against 11% of The CW's.

SYFY ships an update every 5 weeks, The CW monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SYFY | The CW |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/syfy/id378092432/reviews)** | [3.2 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-cw/id491730359/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 17K | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | **34.0% of reviews** | 10.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#195** |
| Size | 240 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Versant Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840809836) | [The CW Network](https://appshunter.io/developer/490222213) |

## 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


### The CW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-cw/id491730359)

**Currently charting:** #195 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Stream the latest episodes of popular TV shows, full series, movies, and live sports. Enjoy content the day after broadcast, binge-watch favorites, and discover new films. Access 24/7 programming and manage your viewing with a personal profile.

**Highlights:** Latest episodes next-day streaming, Binge full series, Growing movie collection, Live and on-demand sports, 24/7 channel programming, Personalized profiles and watchlists

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Free streaming service
- 🔍 Wide variety of shows
- 📺 Convenient way to watch missed episodes

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Too many repetitive ads
- 🔀 Inconsistent episode tracking and resume functionality
- 🤯 Buggy playback and app crashes
- 🔍 Limited episode availability per show

**Reported bugs**

- Playback stalling and freezing issues
- Incorrect episode resume points
- Orientation and layout problems on tablets

**Requested features**

- Ability to watch full seasons of shows
- Improved episode resume and tracking
- Reduced ad frequency and more variety


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SYFY free?

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

### Is The CW free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SYFY or The CW?

SYFY is rated higher. SYFY averages 4.6 out of 5 from 17K ratings, while The CW averages 3.2 from 22K ratings.

### Do SYFY or The CW have ads?

Both SYFY and The CW show ads.

### Which is updated more often, SYFY or The CW?

SYFY ships an update every 5 weeks, and The CW monthly. Most recently, SYFY was updated on October 25, 2026 and The CW on October 24, 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.*