# truTV vs CBS

The clearest difference is update cadence: CBS at fortnightly against truTV's every 3 months. CBS also leads on review sentiment (36% vs 16%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). truTV's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CBS has 71K ratings behind it against 14K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of truTV's written reviews are positive against 36% of CBS's.

truTV ships an update every 3 months, CBS fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | truTV | CBS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trutv/id396972659/reviews) | **[4.8 (71K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cbs/id1540866664/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14K | **71K** |
| Positive reviews | 16.2% of reviews | **35.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#103** |
| Size | 109 MB | 240 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/405623540) | [CBS Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/295669712) |

## 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


### CBS

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

**Currently charting:** #103 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 truTV free?

truTV 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, truTV or CBS?

CBS is rated higher. truTV averages 4.5 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while CBS averages 4.8 from 71K ratings.

### Do truTV or CBS have ads?

Both truTV and CBS show ads.

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

truTV ships an update every 3 months, and CBS fortnightly. Most recently, truTV was updated on October 2, 2026 and CBS on October 2, 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.*