# TiVo vs Tablo

The clearest difference is ads: TiVo at none against Tablo's shown. TiVo also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (3.3K vs 57). Tablo's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (20% vs 10%). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 2.0 for TiVo against 1.9 for Tablo. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TiVo has 3.3K ratings behind it against 57, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 10% of TiVo's written reviews are positive against 20% of Tablo's.

TiVo ships an update every 4 months, Tablo every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TiVo | Tablo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.0 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tivo/id401673976/reviews)** | [1.9 (57 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tablo/id6446037140/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | 57 |
| Positive reviews | 10.2% of reviews | **20.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 162 MB | 152 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [TiVo Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/401673979) | [Nuvyyo Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/445058626) |

## What reviewers say

### TiVo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tivo/id401673976)

Control your TV experience from your mobile device. Discover new shows, schedule recordings, and stream live or recorded content anywhere. Search across multiple services to find exactly what you want to watch.

**Highlights:** Out-of-home & in-home streaming, Download recordings for offline viewing, Personalized 'What to Watch' dashboard, Remote recording scheduling, Mobile search across TV and streaming services, Integrated remote control functionality

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Works well
- 🚀 Streaming and downloading work well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 🔍 Poor search and navigation
- 🔌 Streaming and downloading issues
- 🤖 App feels abandoned by developers

**Reported bugs**

- Constant need to re-login
- Streaming and downloading failures
- Incompatibility with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Picture-in-picture support
- Improved remote control functionality
- Easier episode and recording management


### Tablo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tablo/id6446037140)

Record and watch live TV from your antenna and streaming channels without a subscription. Access broadcast content and local news on any device in your home, including smartphones and tablets.

**Highlights:** Record live TV, Watch streaming channels, No subscription required, Access on all home devices, Includes local news and sports, Works with TV antennas

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable
- 🔓 Secure and stable
- 💰 Great value for cord-cutters
- 📺 Excellent OTA TV experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Inconsistent performance across devices
- 🕰️ Slow app load times
- 🔀 Confusing navigation and UI

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to watch recordings in progress
- Unreliable channel scanning and guide data
- Connectivity issues with certain network setups
- Compatibility problems with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Picture-in-picture mode
- Remote access to recordings
- Improved channel guide and DVR management
- Seamless integration with smart home devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TiVo free?

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

### Is Tablo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TiVo or Tablo?

TiVo is rated higher. TiVo averages 2.0 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Tablo averages 1.9 from 57 ratings.

### Do TiVo or Tablo have ads?

Tablo shows ads; TiVo does not.

### Which is updated more often, TiVo or Tablo?

TiVo ships an update every 4 months, and Tablo every 5 weeks. Most recently, TiVo was updated on September 25, 2026 and Tablo on September 24, 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.*