Comparison

PBS vs The Brick TV

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

Head to head
About

PBS

Stream a vast library of award-winning documentaries, iconic series, and live local TV from your PBS station. Discover new shows and catch up on favorites across drama, news, history, science, and arts anytime, anywhere.

Highlights
  • Stream live local PBS station
  • Watch thousands of full-length episodes on demand
  • Access award-winning documentaries
  • Explore iconic series across multiple genres
  • Save episodes to a custom watchlist
  • Daily additions of new videos and episodes
Features
Read full description

Get the PBS app and stream heartwarming shows like All Creatures Great & Small and Call the Midwife, plus new documentary series like Ken Burns’ American Buffalo. The PBS app features the latest news, live TV from your local PBS station, award-winning documentaries, and iconic series. Download the PBS app and stream thousands of full-length episodes anytime, anywhere! Streaming and watching TV is made easy with the PBS app. Watch series you love and discover brand new shows, live or on demand, with PBS’s streaming app available on your mobile phone, tablet, or Smart TV. Unlike conventional streaming apps, PBS lets you access local TV live! Stream local content with the PBS app livestream and discover your favorite local PBS station shows. Stay up to date with the latest news; watching shows like Frontline, PBS NewsHour, and Washington Week. Catch up on your favorite British dramas with Masterpiece classics including complete seasons of Miss Scarlet & the Duke, World on Fire, Endeavour, and Sanditon. Learn about history and science with new episodes of Finding Your Roots, Antiques Roadshow, Nature, and NOVA. Discover exciting musical performances watching Great Performances and Austin City Limits. You never have to miss a show with brand new videos and episodes added daily to the PBS app. WHAT DO YOU GET WITH THE FREE PBS APP? STREAM LOCAL & LIVE TV - Connect to your local PBS station and watch your local station livestream - Tune in to the latest from your local community on the PBS app - Stream your local station TV channel live anytime WATCH TV SHOWS ON DEMAND - Watch TV shows on demand with the PBS app - TV shows of all genres - from drama and romance to murder and mystery - Watch a new series and your all-time favorites - Save episodes of your favorite TV shows to a custom watchlist STREAM A VARIETY OF CONTENT - Watch a new TV show or explore videos from the PBS archives - Stream specially curated playlists, short films, interviews, extras, and more - Binge TV shows of all genres on the PBS app - Watch films, documentaries and TV shows WATCH TV SERIES ACROSS MULTIPLE GENRES - Enjoy the best of streaming and entertainment with PBS - Drama: All Creatures Great and Small, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Broadchurch, Poldark, Vienna Blood, Grantchester, Sanditon, World on Fire, Call the Midwife, Jamestown, and more. - Foreign Language Dramas: Professor T, Seaside Hotel, The Paris Murders, Luna and Sophie, and Sisi: Austrian Empress - News & Public Affairs: Programs from PBS NewsHour, Frontline, Amanpour and Company, Firing Line, and Washington Week. - Award-Winning Films & Documentaries: Discover new perspectives with Ken Burns, Independent Lens, POV,, and the PBS Short Film Festival. - History: Antiques Roadshow, American Experience, American Masters, Finding Your Roots, and more. - Arts & Performances: Great Performances, Austin City Limits, Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting, and Variety Studio: Actors on Acting. - Science & Nature: Explore astonishing new worlds from NOVA, Nature, Deep Look, Expedition, and more. WATCH MORE WITH PBS PASSPORT Passport is an added benefit of station membership. By donating to your local PBS station you can: - Stream an expanded library of acclaimed PBS programming - Extended and exclusive access to 1,500+ episodes of your favorite shows - Watch past and current seasons of popular shows like All Creatures Great and Small, Endeavour, and Sanditon - Binge watch new TV series and your favorite PBS programs, like Finding Your Roots - Stream early releases and special collections, like Ken Burns films and Antiques Roadshow WHAT’S NEW ON PBS MASTERPIECE: Moonflower Murders Blake Edwards: A Love Story in 24 Frames Big Cats 24/7 NOVA: Dog Tales MASTERPIECE: Van der Valk S4 Finding Your Roots Watch TV anywhere and stream PBS shows today. PBS offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new worlds through trusted, educational television and digital content.

About

The Brick TV

Access a streaming service dedicated to culturally responsive content created by diverse communities. Enjoy a wide array of productions rooted in love and excellence, fostering a sense of community and celebrating cultural creations.

Highlights
  • Culturally responsive content
  • Community-focused platform
  • Original productions
  • Unlimited device access
  • Auto-renewing subscriptions
Features
Read full description

The Brick TV is a streaming service that features culturally responsive content from the voices of those communities. This platform is a place to be in community, to enjoy the brilliant creations of those that created the culture, and to experience a wide array of emotions while viewing productions rooted in love and excellence. ▷ Already a Member? Sign-In to access your subscription. ▷ New? Subscribe in the app to get instant access. The Brick TV offers auto-renewing subscriptions. You'll receive unlimited access to content on all your devices. Payment is charged to your Account at confirmation of purchase. Pricing varies by location and is confirmed prior to purchase. Subscription automatically renews each month unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period, or the trial period (when offered). Cancel anytime in Account Settings. For more information see our: -Terms of Service: https://thebricktv.com/terms -Privacy Policy: https://thebricktv.com/privacy

Screenshots

PBS4 screens
The Brick TV3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PBS at none against The Brick TV's 4. PBS also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (356K vs 46). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. The Brick TV sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. PBS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PBS holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PBS has 356K ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of PBS's written reviews are positive against 79% of The Brick TV's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PBS ships an update every 5 weeks, The Brick TV monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
PBS versus The Brick TV: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPBSThe Brick TV
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (356K ratings) — better4.5 (46 ratings)
Positive reviews81.0% of reviews — better79.2% of reviews
Number of ratings356K — better46
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#176 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TViPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV
Requires iOS15.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB66 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperPBSSeneca Greenwood LLC

Customer experience

PBS

All ratings356,336 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral0.9%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews934 reviews
Positive81.0%
Neutral3.7%
Negative15.2%

The Brick TV

All ratings46 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral2.2%
Negative10.9%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive79.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.8%

Bugs and requests

PBS

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App freezes and crashes frequently
  • Unable to cast or stream content reliably
  • Watch history and progress not saved properly
  • Incompatibility issues with certain devices
  • Inconsistent behavior when navigating the app

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add option to skip ads for Passport members
  • Improve resume functionality to remember progress
  • Enhance discoverability of shows and categories
  • Provide more free content for non-Passport users
  • Optimize app performance and stability
Show 1 more
  • Expand availability to international users

The Brick TV

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

PBS

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

The Brick TV

Subscriptions4
  • The Brick TV Monthly$5.991 Month
  • The Brick Monthly Plan$5.991 Month
  • The Brick TV Yearly$59.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • The Brick Annual Plan$59.991 Year

Questions

Is PBS free?
PBS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Brick TV free?
The Brick TV is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PBS or The Brick TV?
PBS is rated higher. PBS averages 4.9 out of 5 from 356K ratings, while The Brick TV averages 4.5 from 46 ratings.
Do PBS or The Brick TV have ads?
Neither PBS nor The Brick TV shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PBS or The Brick TV?
PBS ships an update every 5 weeks, and The Brick TV monthly. Most recently, PBS was updated on September 24, 2026 and The Brick TV on September 19, 2026.

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