# VLC Streamer vs Apple TV

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Apple TV at none against VLC Streamer's 4. Apple TV also leads on ratings volume (1.9M vs 415) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). VLC Streamer's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VLC Streamer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Apple TV asks for nothing beyond the download.

Apple TV holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Apple TV has 1.9M ratings behind it against 415, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of VLC Streamer's written reviews are positive against 43% of Apple TV's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

VLC Streamer ships an update every 3 months, Apple TV every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VLC Streamer | Apple TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (415 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vlc-streamer/id410036516/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-tv/id1174078549/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 415 | **1.9M** |
| Positive reviews | **45.7% of reviews** | 43.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 64 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Hobbyist Software Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/291218199) | [Apple](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) |

## What reviewers say

### VLC Streamer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vlc-streamer/id410036516)

Stream your entire movie collection from your PC to your iPhone, iPod, or iPad without conversion. Enjoy your favorite films anywhere in your house with easy setup and customizable controls.

**Highlights:** Stream movies from PC, No conversion needed, Browse local drives and network shares, Customizable gesture controls, Support for multiple resolutions, Live video streaming

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VLC Streamer Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| VLC Streamer Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| VLC Streamer Annual | $2.99 | per year |
| VLC Streamer Annual | $5.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Smooth streaming
- 💡 Useful for accessing media library
- 👍 Great customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔋 High CPU usage on host computer
- 🔒 Security concerns with open access to computer
- 💸 Aggressive monetization with ads and subscription model

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to detect/connect to host computer
- Inconsistent video quality and buffering issues
- Conversion process causing overheating on host computer

**Requested features**

- Remote access from outside home network
- Improved codec support, especially for MKV files
- Resume playback from last position
- Ability to manage/delete files from mobile device


### Apple TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-tv/id1174078549)

This app is a central hub for exclusive original series, movies, and live sports like Formula 1 and MLB. It also aggregates content from your favorite streaming services, allowing you to buy or rent titles and discover new shows.

**Highlights:** Exclusive Apple Originals, Live Formula 1 & MLB, Buy or rent movies, Aggregate streaming services, Personalized recommendations, Continue Watching feature

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Decent quality viewing experience
- 👍 Impressive 4K and audio quality
- 🤩 Fantastic original content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable app
- 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 💰 Misleading pricing and pay-to-watch content
- 🤔 Lack of user-friendly features
- 😡 Terrible customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Playback issues and random freezes
- Incorrect episode/content display
- Syncing problems across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to save/bookmark content for later
- Improved content organization and navigation
- Sync playback progress across devices
- Chromecast/casting support
- User profiles and personalized recommendations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VLC Streamer free?

VLC Streamer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Apple TV free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VLC Streamer or Apple TV?

Apple TV is rated higher. VLC Streamer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 415 ratings, while Apple TV averages 4.8 from 1.9M ratings.

### Do VLC Streamer or Apple TV have ads?

Apple TV shows ads; VLC Streamer does not.

### Which is updated more often, VLC Streamer or Apple TV?

VLC Streamer ships an update every 3 months, and Apple TV every 2 months. Most recently, VLC Streamer was updated on September 12, 2026 and Apple TV on September 28, 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.*