# NHL vs MLB

The clearest difference is chart position: MLB at #4 against NHL's #106. MLB also leads on ratings volume (936K vs 135K). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NHL sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and MLB sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 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 — 4.7 for NHL against 4.7 for MLB. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MLB has 936K ratings behind it against 135K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 36% of NHL's written reviews are positive against 40% of MLB's.

NHL ships an update fortnightly, MLB every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | NHL | MLB |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (135K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nhl/id465092669/reviews) | [4.7 (936K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mlb/id493619333/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 135K | **936K** |
| Positive reviews | 36.0% of reviews | **39.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #106 | **#4** |
| Size | 157 MB | 512 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NHL Interactive Cyberenterprises, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/361327131) | [Major League Baseball Advanced Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/281969992) |

## What reviewers say

### NHL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nhl/id465092669)

**Currently charting:** #106 Top Free · Sports (US App Store)

Stay up-to-date with the latest hockey season. Access advanced stats, live game updates, and comprehensive viewing information. Enjoy personalized notifications, highlights, and team-specific alerts.

**Highlights:** Advanced EDGE Stats and Data Visualizations, Live Activities for real-time game tracking, Comprehensive 'How to Watch' guide, Team and Player Search functionality, Breaking news and up-to-the-minute scores, Game Stories & video highlights, Goal Horn game alerts

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rogers NHL Live | $54.99 | one-time |
| Rogers Stanley Cup Playoffs Pass | $69.99 | one-time |
| NHL LIVE™ Half season pass | $69.99 | one-time |
| Rogers NHL Live | $69.99 | one-time |
| Rogers NHL Live | $94.99 | one-time |
| Rogers 2017-18 Annual | $109.99 | one-time |
| Rogers NHL Live | $109.99 | one-time |
| Rogers 2018-19 Early Bird | $129.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Customizable team icons
- 🚀 Provides great game and news updates
- 👍 Allows listening to home or away radio broadcasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 🐛 Buggy video playback
- 🔒 Inconsistent blackout policies
- 🐛 Glitchy interface and navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Scores not updating properly
- Inability to watch live games due to unknown errors
- Incorrect time zone adjustments
- Inability to edit or delete brackets
- Inconsistent performance across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to download games for offline viewing
- More statistical and analytical features
- Improved video controls (e.g. period selection, better scrubbing)
- Ability to invite friends to leagues and brackets
- Better account management options


### MLB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mlb/id493619333)

**Currently charting:** #4 Top Grossing · Sports, #6 Top Free · Sports, #107 Top Grossing (US App Store)

This app provides live baseball video and audio, offering personalized programming and on-demand content. Subscribers gain access to out-of-market games, MLB Network, and extensive minor league coverage. Enjoy real-time highlights and game updates directly on your device.

**Highlights:** Live game video and audio streaming, Real-time highlights and alerts, Customizable news feed, Player position and batted ball tracking, Minor League Baseball game streaming, MLB Film Room video library

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MLB+ | $5.99 | per month |
| MLB+  with Trial | $5.99 | per month |
| MLB+ Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| MLB.TV Monthly | $29.99 | per month |
| MLB.TV Monthly Trial | $29.99 | per month |
| MLB+ Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| 2021 MLB.TV for T-Mobile | Free | one-time |
| 2023 MLB.TV Yearly | Free | one-time |
| 2024 MLB.TV Yearly | Free | one-time |
| 2026 MLB.TV Seasonal | Free | one-time |
| MLB.TV for T-Mobile Customers | Free | one-time |
| 2025 MLB.TV Yearly | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Comprehensive coverage of MLB
- 🌎 Great for international fans
- 📊 Detailed stats and information
- 🎧 Ability to listen to radio broadcasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
- 📆 Confusing date/time display for international users
- 🔇 Audio issues and delays
- 🚫 Frustrating blackout restrictions
- 💰 Expensive subscription with too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes and crashes
- Incorrect game dates and times
- Audio playback issues and delays
- Unreliable video streaming

**Requested features**

- Option to hide scores for spoiler-free viewing
- Improved navigation and UI
- Resume watching functionality for archived games
- Better support for older devices and iOS versions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NHL free?

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

### Is MLB free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NHL or MLB?

NHL and MLB are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 135K and 936K ratings respectively.

### Do NHL or MLB have ads?

Both NHL and MLB show ads.

### Which is updated more often, NHL or MLB?

NHL ships an update fortnightly, and MLB every 2 weeks. Most recently, NHL was updated on September 25, 2026 and MLB on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, NHL or MLB?

NHL currently peaks at #106 in the App Store charts, and MLB at #4. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*