PBS vs The Brick TV
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- Culturally responsive content
- Community-focused platform
- Original productions
- Unlimited device access
- Auto-renewing subscriptions
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | PBS | The Brick TV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (356K ratings) — better | 4.5 (46 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 81.0% of reviews — better | 79.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 356K — better | 46 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #176 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 15.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 66 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | PBS | Seneca Greenwood LLC |
Customer experience
PBS
The Brick TV
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
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- Expand availability to international users
The Brick TV
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
PBS
No in-app purchases
The Brick TV
- The Brick TV Monthly$5.991 Month
- The Brick Monthly Plan$5.991 Month
- The Brick TV Yearly$59.991 Year
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- The Brick Annual Plan$59.991 Year









