# PBS vs Split Flap

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PBS at none against Split Flap's 2. PBS also leads on ratings volume (357K vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.4 vs 17.0). Split Flap's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 81%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Split Flap sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PBS asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for PBS against 5.0 for Split Flap. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PBS has 357K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of PBS's written reviews are positive against 100% of Split Flap's.

PBS ships an update every 5 weeks, Split Flap every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PBS | Split Flap |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (357K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pbs-watch-tv-and-documentaries/id398349296/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/split-flap-display-board/id6748541838/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **357K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 80.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 52 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PBS](https://appshunter.io/developer/329374179) | [Gregory Dolder](https://appshunter.io/developer/1556110511) |

## What reviewers say

### PBS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pbs-watch-tv-and-documentaries/id398349296)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎥 Excellent programming, especially documentaries
- 🎨 High-quality, diverse content
- 📺 Ability to watch shows on-demand
- 🎬 Exclusive access to shows through Passport
- 🌍 Variety of international and British shows

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Buggy app with frequent crashes
- 🔍 Difficulty finding and resuming shows
- 💰 Paywall for most content, even for donors
- 🇨🇦 Limited availability for Canadian users
- 📢 Intrusive ads even for Passport members

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### Split Flap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/split-flap-display-board/id6748541838)

Transform any screen into a dynamic display with various retro and modern signage styles. Create custom messages, build playlists, and schedule them to appear automatically. Offers live feeds for time, weather, and news, with offline functionality and privacy controls.

**Highlights:** Customizable message displays, Multiple retro and modern themes, Playlist creation and scheduling, Live data feeds (time, weather, news), Offline functionality, Local REST API for control, Cross-device support

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Features | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PBS free?

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

### Is Split Flap free?

Split Flap is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PBS or Split Flap?

Split Flap is rated higher. PBS averages 4.9 out of 5 from 357K ratings, while Split Flap averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do PBS or Split Flap have ads?

Neither PBS nor Split Flap shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PBS or Split Flap?

PBS ships an update every 5 weeks, and Split Flap every 3 weeks. Most recently, PBS was updated on November 10, 2026 and Split Flap on November 8, 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.*