# truTV vs YouTube TV

The clearest difference is rating: truTV at 4.5 against YouTube TV's 3.6. truTV also leads on monetization model (ad-supported vs subscription) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). YouTube TV's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and chart position (#35 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.

truTV holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14K and 60K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of truTV's written reviews are positive against 12% of YouTube TV's.

truTV ships an update every 3 months, YouTube TV weekly. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | truTV | YouTube TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trutv/id396972659/reviews)** | [3.6 (60K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/youtube-tv/id1193350206/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 14K | **60K** |
| Positive reviews | **15.4% of reviews** | 12.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#35** |
| Size | 109 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/405623540) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### truTV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trutv/id396972659)

Stream live sports, full episodes of popular TV shows, and movies on demand. Sign in with your TV provider to access content from truTV and enjoy entertainment anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Watch live sports, Stream full TV episodes, Enjoy blockbuster movies, Sign in with TV provider, Access truTV originals, Watch anytime, anywhere

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Great content like Impractical Jokers and Adam Ruins Everything
- 👍 Decent user interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant crashes and bugs
- 🔁 Endless ad loops and poor ad integration
- 📺 Inability to continue watching from where you left off
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
- 🔒 Frequent sign-out issues and login problems

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to watch episodes
- Freezes and becomes unresponsive
- Login screen issues and inability to sign in
- Video playback problems and constant buffering

**Requested features**

- Add ability to turn off closed captions
- Implement Chromecast/AirPlay support
- Add a 'continue watching' feature
- Improve overall app stability and performance


### YouTube TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/youtube-tv/id1193350206)

**Currently charting:** #35 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Stream live TV from over 100 networks without a cable box. Record your favorite shows with unlimited cloud DVR storage and share accounts with family. Cancel your monthly membership anytime.

**Highlights:** Cable-free live TV streaming, 100+ networks including local channels, Unlimited cloud DVR storage, Recordings stored for 9 months, 6 accounts per household, Watch on multiple devices

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great alternative to cable
- 👍 Lots of channel options
- 👍 Sports features like key plays
- 👍 Ability to record shows
- 👍 Ability to access on the go

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Too many ads
- 🐛 Playback issues like freezing and audio problems
- 🐛 Difficulty finding and managing recorded shows
- 🐛 Inconsistent volume levels
- 🐛 Buggy app behavior on various devices

**Reported bugs**

- Recorded shows not marking as watched
- Playback issues like freezing and audio problems
- App crashing when trying to resume watching
- Difficulty finding recently recorded shows
- Location-based content restrictions causing issues for travelers

**Requested features**

- Add delete and mark as watched buttons for library
- Improve navigation and organization of recorded shows
- Add option to select preferred video quality
- Improve channel browsing and customization
- Add profile support for multiple users


## Frequently asked questions

### Is truTV free?

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

### Is YouTube TV free?

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

### Which has better reviews, truTV or YouTube TV?

truTV is rated higher. truTV averages 4.5 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while YouTube TV averages 3.6 from 60K ratings.

### Do truTV or YouTube TV have ads?

Both truTV and YouTube TV show ads.

### Which is updated more often, truTV or YouTube TV?

truTV ships an update every 3 months, and YouTube TV weekly. Most recently, truTV was updated on October 16, 2026 and YouTube TV on October 16, 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.*