Comparison

NFL vs NHL

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

Head to head
About

NFL

Stay connected to the NFL season with live scores, highlights, breaking news, and analysis. Stream live games, listen to audio broadcasts, and access exclusive content with premium subscriptions.

Highlights
  • Live scoring and in-game highlights
  • Breaking news and insider analysis
  • Stream live out-of-market preseason games
  • Stream live local and primetime regular season games
  • Listen to live game audio
  • Watch NFL RedZone and game replays
  • Access player and team performance stats
Read full description

Keep up with the season wherever you go with the official app of the NFL. GET CLOSER TO THE ACTION: - Make the NFL app your central hub for game day and access available NFL content in one place. - Get up-to-the-minute scoring, in-game highlights and drive charts to track every play. - Go deeper into the game with breaking news, key stories, and insider analysis. - Stay connected with the NFL Channel and get FREE NFL content 24/7. START YOUR GAMEDAY WITH NFL+: - Stream live local and primetime regular season and postseason games on phone and tablet. - Watch NFL Network 24/7, including seven exclusive games in the 2026 NFL season! - Watch ad-free highlights from every game. - Listen to live game audio with home, away and national broadcasts for every game of the season. - Get NFL Films’ programming and other on-demand content across devices and ad-free. NFL+ PREMIUM HAS MORE NFL: - Access everything from NFL+ - Watch NFL RedZone across devices to catch every touchdown from every game, every Sunday afternoon during the regular season. - Relive gameday with game replays including full, condensed, and All-22 coaches' films across devices, all ad-free. - Get access to NFL Pro and over 95 unique player and team performance stats and All-22 film for an advanced analytics platform (available on desktop and mobile web). Subscription required for NFL+ and NFL+ Premium. Terms and Conditions Apply. NFL Network and NFL RedZone are available to stream on an authenticated basis for eligible subscribers of participating TV providers! The NFL app allows use of AirPlay when viewing all video-on-demand and select live content. However, the NFL app does not permit outputs from phones or tablets of live games, NFL RedZone or NFL Network to external displays via HDMI, Chromecast, AirPlay, Miracast or other similar streaming functionality. Privacy Policy: https://www.nfl.com/legal/privacy Terms of Service: www.nfl.com/legal/terms

About

NHL

Stay up-to-date with the latest hockey season. Access advanced stats, live game updates, and comprehensive viewing information. Enjoy personalized notifications, highlights, and team-specific alerts.

Highlights
  • Advanced EDGE Stats and Data Visualizations
  • Live Activities for real-time game tracking
  • Comprehensive 'How to Watch' guide
  • Team and Player Search functionality
  • Breaking news and up-to-the-minute scores
  • Game Stories & video highlights
  • Goal Horn game alerts
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Dive into the action with the NHL App, now featuring Apple’s Liquid Glass design across the navigation bar and header buttons for a sleek, fluid experience. – New! One-Stop Player Pages: Get everything you want about a player all in one place! Current & Career Stats, EDGE Advanced Stats, content, bio, awards & vitals… plus brand new player-centric features like Last Game/Next Game and By the Numbers, with more new goodies rolling out all season long. – New! GameZone: Your home for free-to-play hockey games has been redesigned with all-new Challenges, Quests, Leaderboards, Rewards & Prizes. More ways to play and more ways to win! – New! Media Tab has expanded content to watch and listen to, including the latest NHL Podcasts, NHL YouTube exclusives, Player Stories and great video features to bite or binge on. – Expanded How to Watch: There are more ways than ever to watch a game. We’ve got you covered with all the info on where to stream, tune in, or follow along, no matter where you are. – Official & Advanced Stats, Visualized: Which player had the Hardest Shot last night? What team is on the Hottest Streak? How’s the Scoring Race unfolding? The Stats tab delivers your daily dose of data & new ways of looking at the game. Plus all the official Core Stats, League Leaders & EDGE Advanced Stats you can shake a hockey stick at. – Live Activities: Live scoring updates right on your lock screen. Choose one game, or opt in for any (or all!) teams so you can set it and forget it! Plus: Seasonal onboarding lets you review your choices so you can experience all the NHL App has to offer, just the way you like it: breaking news notifications, up-to-the-minute scores and live Gamecenter, Game Stories & video highlights, your favorite team’s icon and Goal Horn game alerts & much more. By downloading and using the NHL® app, you acknowledge and agree that (i) you have read, understood and agreed to be bound by the NHL.com Terms of Service (https://www.nhl.com/info/terms-of-service) and (ii) the information you provide will be handled in accordance with the NHL.com Privacy Policy (https://www.nhl.com/info/privacy-policy).  Features and content within the NHL® app are subject to change.  NHL, the NHL Shield and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League.  NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Screenshots

NFL4 screens
NHL4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: NFL at #2 against NHL's #89. NFL also leads on update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly) and ratings volume (412K vs 135K). NHL's advantage is review sentiment (36% vs 21%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. NFL sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and NHL sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NHL holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 412K and 135K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of NFL's written reviews are positive against 36% of NHL's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NFL ships an update weekly, NHL fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
NFL versus NHL: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNFLNHL
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (412K ratings)4.7 (135K ratings) — better
Positive reviews20.5% of reviews36.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings412K — better135K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#2 — better#89
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TViPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size235 MB157 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNFL Enterprises LLCNHL Interactive Cyberenterprises, LLC

Customer experience

NFL

All ratings412,015 ratings
Positive87.6%
Neutral4.0%
Negative8.4%
Written reviews2,005 reviews
Positive20.5%
Neutral6.8%
Negative72.7%

NHL

All ratings134,684 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.2%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews714 reviews
Positive36.0%
Neutral11.2%
Negative52.8%

User reviews

NFL

From 412K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Great app for following NFL
  • 🌎 Useful for international fans
  • 📊 Provides good stats and information

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
  • 🔇 Inconsistent video/audio playback
  • 💰 Expensive subscription with limited features
  • 🔄 Automatic video playback is annoying

NHL

From 135K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Customizable team icons
  • 🚀 Provides great game and news updates
  • 👍 Allows listening to home or away radio broadcasts

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes frequently
  • 🔋 Drains battery quickly
  • 🐛 Buggy video playback
  • 🔒 Inconsistent blackout policies
  • 🐛 Glitchy interface and navigation

Bugs and requests

NFL

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • News section not working
  • Subscription issues and login problems
  • Streaming problems and black screens
  • Inconsistent performance across devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow casting to TV
  • Improve game replay functionality
  • Add more customization options
  • Provide better score/stat tracking

NHL

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Scores not updating properly
  • Inability to watch live games due to unknown errors
  • Incorrect time zone adjustments
  • Inability to edit or delete brackets
  • Inconsistent performance across devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to download games for offline viewing
  • More statistical and analytical features
  • Improved video controls (e.g. period selection, better scrubbing)
  • Ability to invite friends to leagues and brackets
  • Better account management options

In-app purchases

10 purchases

NFL

Subscriptions4
  • NFL+ Monthly$6.991 Month
  • NFL+ Premium$14.991 Month
  • NFL+ Annual1 Year trial$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • NFL+ Premium Annual1 Year trial$99.991 Year
One-time6
  • NFL Game Pass 2019Free
  • NFL RedZone 2019 Pass$19.99
  • 2020 NFL Game Pass$49.99
Show 3 more
  • Season Plus Pass$79.99
  • NFL Game Pass 2017 Subscription$99.99
  • NFL Game Pass 2018$99.99
8 purchases

NHL

One-time8
  • Rogers NHL Live$54.99
  • Rogers Stanley Cup Playoffs Pass$69.99
  • NHL LIVE™ Half season pass$69.99
Show 5 more
  • Rogers NHL Live$69.99
  • Rogers NHL Live$94.99
  • Rogers 2017-18 Annual$109.99
  • Rogers NHL Live$109.99
  • Rogers 2018-19 Early Bird$129.99

Questions

Is NFL free?
NFL is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NHL free?
NHL is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NFL or NHL?
NHL is rated higher. NFL averages 4.5 out of 5 from 412K ratings, while NHL averages 4.7 from 135K ratings.
Do NFL or NHL have ads?
Both NFL and NHL show ads.
Which is updated more often, NFL or NHL?
NFL ships an update weekly, and NHL fortnightly. Most recently, NFL was updated on September 25, 2026 and NHL on September 25, 2026.
Which is more popular, NFL or NHL?
NFL currently peaks at #2 in the App Store charts, and NHL at #89. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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