# TV Guide and Listings App vs BFBS Player

The clearest difference is rating: BFBS Player at 5.0 against TV Guide and Listings App's 3.6. BFBS Player also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). TV Guide and Listings App's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (35 vs 3). On price and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TV Guide and Listings App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. BFBS Player asks for nothing beyond the download.

BFBS Player holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TV Guide and Listings App has 35 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 7% of TV Guide and Listings App's written reviews are positive against 19% of BFBS Player's.

TV Guide and Listings App ships an update every 4 weeks, BFBS Player every 6 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TV Guide and Listings App | BFBS Player |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-guide-and-listings-app/id379455139/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bfbs-player/id1017649305/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **35** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 7.4% of reviews | **19.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 3 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [DIGITALBOX PUBLISHING LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1773311513) | [BFBS Radio](https://appshunter.io/developer/463475235) |

## What reviewers say

### TV Guide and Listings App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-guide-and-listings-app/id379455139)

Discover what's on TV with this comprehensive guide. Stay informed about the latest programming and connect with a community of viewers. Designed for ease of use, it aims to provide a pleasant viewing experience.

**Highlights:** TV listings, Programming schedule, Latest news, Community connection, User-friendly design

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TV Guide Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| TV Guide Annual Subscription | $25.49 | per year |


### BFBS Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bfbs-player/id1017649305)

Access a variety of UK TV channels and exclusive Forces content while serving overseas. Requires authentication with a Defence Gateway account for serving British Forces members and entitled users. Not intended for unsupervised use by minors.

**Highlights:** UK TV channels, Exclusive Forces channels, Overseas access, Defence Gateway authentication, Forces TV channel access in UK

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good for overseas access
- 👍 Catch up service appreciated
- 👍 Improved login process (recent)
- 👍 Works well for some users
- 👍 Free service appreciated

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Location detection issues
- 🐛 Constant buffering
- 🐛 Login problems
- 🐛 App crashes/freezes
- 🐛 Limited channels available

**Reported bugs**

- App thinks users are in the UK when abroad
- App buffers constantly
- Unable to play stream
- Cannot log in
- App returns to login screen after submitting info

**Requested features**

- Show all channels
- Improve location detection for overseas users
- Add Apple TV app
- Enable screen mirroring/casting
- Make app backwards compatible for older iPads


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TV Guide and Listings App free?

TV Guide and Listings App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BFBS Player free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TV Guide and Listings App or BFBS Player?

BFBS Player is rated higher. TV Guide and Listings App averages 3.6 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while BFBS Player averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do TV Guide and Listings App or BFBS Player have ads?

TV Guide and Listings App shows ads; BFBS Player does not.

### Which is updated more often, TV Guide and Listings App or BFBS Player?

TV Guide and Listings App ships an update every 4 weeks, and BFBS Player every 6 months. Most recently, TV Guide and Listings App was updated on November 1, 2026 and BFBS Player on November 1, 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.*