# truTV vs Spectrum TV

The clearest difference is update cadence: Spectrum TV at every 9 days against truTV's every 3 months. Spectrum TV also leads on ratings volume (569K vs 14K) and review sentiment (27% vs 15%). truTV's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, rating, 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.

Spectrum TV holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spectrum TV has 569K ratings behind it against 14K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of truTV's written reviews are positive against 27% of Spectrum TV's.

truTV ships an update every 3 months, Spectrum TV every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | truTV | Spectrum TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trutv/id396972659/reviews) | **[4.7 (569K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrum-tv/id420455839/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14K | **569K** |
| Positive reviews | 15.4% of reviews | **27.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #142 | **#85** |
| Size | 109 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/405623540) | [Charter Communications](https://appshunter.io/developer/396670004) |

## What reviewers say

### truTV

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

**Currently charting:** #142 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

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


### Spectrum TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrum-tv/id420455839)

**Currently charting:** #85 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Stream live and On Demand TV content on various devices. Control your DVR, set parental controls, and personalize your viewing experience. Access thousands of shows and movies anywhere with a connection.

**Highlights:** Stream live TV anywhere, Thousands of On Demand shows and movies, Cast to compatible TVs, Personalized channel guide, Search by title, network, actor, or team, Control TV and DVR, Set parental controls

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great remote TV experience
- 👍 Convenient for watching on the go
- 💡 Useful for catching up on missed shows

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent freezing, buffering, and sync issues
- 🔧 Navigation and UI changes make the app less intuitive
- 🔒 Restricted access to channels outside home network
- 💰 Expensive service with frequent price increases

**Reported bugs**

- Black screens, audio-video desync, and other playback issues
- Inability to access guide and certain channels on mobile devices
- Inconsistent performance across different device models

**Requested features**

- Ability to pause, rewind, and fast-forward live TV
- Full access to all subscribed channels on mobile devices
- Improved guide and channel browsing experience
- Seamless integration across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is truTV free?

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

### Is Spectrum TV free?

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

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

Spectrum TV is rated higher. truTV averages 4.5 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Spectrum TV averages 4.7 from 569K ratings.

### Do truTV or Spectrum TV have ads?

Both truTV and Spectrum TV show ads.

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

truTV ships an update every 3 months, and Spectrum TV every 9 days. Most recently, truTV was updated on October 13, 2026 and Spectrum TV on October 14, 2026.

### Which is more popular, truTV or Spectrum TV?

truTV currently peaks at #142 in the App Store charts, and Spectrum TV at #85. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*