# VLC Streamer vs Zee 5

The clearest difference is monetization model: Zee 5 at free with in-app purchases against VLC Streamer's subscription. Zee 5 also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (24K vs 415). VLC Streamer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (46% vs 15%). On price, rating, in-app purchases 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 and Zee 5 sells 21 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for VLC Streamer against 4.6 for Zee 5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zee 5 has 24K ratings behind it against 415, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 46% of VLC Streamer's written reviews are positive against 15% of Zee 5's.

VLC Streamer ships an update every 3 months, Zee 5 every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VLC Streamer | Zee 5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (415 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vlc-streamer/id410036516/reviews) | **[4.6 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zee-5/id743691886/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 415 | **24K** |
| Positive reviews | **45.7% of reviews** | 14.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#90** |
| Size | 64 MB | 209 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Hobbyist Software Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/291218199) | [Z5X Global FZ-LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1298929437) |

## 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


### Zee 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zee-5/id743691886)

**Currently charting:** #90 Top Grossing · Entertainment (US App Store)

Stream thousands of South Asian movies, web series, and TV shows in your preferred language. Enjoy live cricket, download content for offline viewing, and discover personalized recommendations. Experience high-quality streaming with options for dubbed and multilingual content.

**Highlights:** 4000+ movies and 500+ originals, Content dubbed in 8 languages, 12 display and 21 content languages, Offline downloads, Live TV guide, Personalized recommendations, 4K video streaming

**Features:** Vision Pro support, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ZEE5-Epicon-Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| ZEE5-Simply South-Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Month - 1 Year | $5.99 | per year |
| ZEE5 Chaupal Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| HD Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Premium Pack - Special Offer | $7.99 | per year |
| Zee5 Telugu Monthly Premium | $10.99 | per month |
| Zee5 Hindi Monthly Premium | $10.99 | per month |
| 4K Monthly | $17.99 | per month |
| Quarterly - All Access | $20.99 | per 3 months |
| 40% Off - All Access Annual | $49.99 | per year |
| Annual Pack | $59.99 | per year |
| 4K Annual | $65.99 | per year |
| Premium 4K (Discontinued) | $69.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan (Discontinued) | $99.99 | per month |
| 4K Monthly (Discontinued) | $100.99 | per month |
| All Access Plan (Discontinued) | $109.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan (Discontinued) | $109.99 | per month |
| 4K Annual | $124.99 | per year |
| 40% Off (Discontinued) | $499.99 | per year |
| All Access HD Plan | $599.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent streaming quality
- 👍 Great content selection
- 💡 Affordable subscription
- 🎨 Visually appealing app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
- ⏱️ Slow loading times
- 📺 Casting and TV integration issues
- 🔒 Problematic subscription management

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during playback
- Subscription not recognized or renewed properly
- Inability to cancel subscription
- Incorrect content availability based on region

**Requested features**

- Improve search and browsing functionality
- Add resume playback feature
- Provide better language support and subtitles
- Enhance Chromecast and smart TV compatibility


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VLC Streamer free?

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

### Is Zee 5 free?

Zee 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, VLC Streamer or Zee 5?

Zee 5 is rated higher. VLC Streamer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 415 ratings, while Zee 5 averages 4.6 from 24K ratings.

### Do VLC Streamer or Zee 5 have ads?

Zee 5 shows ads; VLC Streamer does not.

### Which is updated more often, VLC Streamer or Zee 5?

VLC Streamer ships an update every 3 months, and Zee 5 every 4 days. Most recently, VLC Streamer was updated on September 12, 2026 and Zee 5 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.*