# Hallmark+ vs The CW

The clearest difference is rating: Hallmark+ at 4.2 against The CW's 3.3. Hallmark+ also leads on ads (none vs shown). The CW's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hallmark+ sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. The CW asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hallmark+ holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12K and 22K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 8% of Hallmark+'s written reviews are positive against 11% of The CW's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Hallmark+ ships an update monthly, The CW every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hallmark+ | The CW |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hallmark-plus/id472567577/reviews)** | [3.3 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-cw/id491730359/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 12K | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | 8.2% of reviews | **11.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#58** | #109 |
| Size | 70 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Hallmark Labs, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/472567580) | [The CW Network](https://appshunter.io/developer/490222213) |

## What reviewers say

### Hallmark+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hallmark-plus/id472567577)

**Currently charting:** #58 Top Grossing · Entertainment (US App Store)

Access exclusive original series, movies, and a vast library of feel-good content. Enjoy benefits like free greeting cards, eCards, and exclusive discounts.

**Highlights:** Exclusive original series, Unlimited movie streaming, Free greeting cards monthly, Unlimited free eCards, Exclusive discounts and rewards, Surprise gifts

**Features:** Vision Pro support, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feeln | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Hallmark Movies Now (Monthly) | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Feeln | $79.99 | per year |
| Annual | $79.99 | per year |
| Annual subscription | $79.99 | per year |
| Hallmark Movies Now (Annual) | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast app
- 👍 Visually appealing
- 👍 Seamless streaming
- 👍 Lots of content
- 👍 No commercials

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 Glitchy playback controls
- 🐛 Logging out issues
- 🐛 Slow loading and buffering
- 🐛 Unreliable app performance

**Reported bugs**

- Playback issues
- Frequent log-outs
- Compatibility problems on various devices
- Inconsistent app behavior

**Requested features**

- Picture-in-picture mode
- Resume watching from last position
- Ability to remove items from 'Continue Watching'
- Improved search and browsing functionality
- More new and current Hallmark content


### The CW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-cw/id491730359)

**Currently charting:** #109 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Stream the latest episodes of popular TV shows, full series, movies, and live sports. Enjoy content the day after broadcast, binge-watch favorites, and discover new films. Access 24/7 programming and manage your viewing with a personal profile.

**Highlights:** Latest episodes next-day streaming, Binge full series, Growing movie collection, Live and on-demand sports, 24/7 channel programming, Personalized profiles and watchlists

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Free streaming service
- 🔍 Wide variety of shows
- 📺 Convenient way to watch missed episodes

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Too many repetitive ads
- 🔀 Inconsistent episode tracking and resume functionality
- 🤯 Buggy playback and app crashes
- 🔍 Limited episode availability per show

**Reported bugs**

- Playback stalling and freezing issues
- Incorrect episode resume points
- Orientation and layout problems on tablets

**Requested features**

- Ability to watch full seasons of shows
- Improved episode resume and tracking
- Reduced ad frequency and more variety


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hallmark+ free?

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

### Is The CW free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hallmark+ or The CW?

Hallmark+ is rated higher. Hallmark+ averages 4.2 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while The CW averages 3.3 from 22K ratings.

### Do Hallmark+ or The CW have ads?

The CW shows ads; Hallmark+ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Hallmark+ or The CW?

Hallmark+ ships an update monthly, and The CW every 4 weeks. Most recently, Hallmark+ was updated on October 1, 2026 and The CW on September 30, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Hallmark+ or The CW?

Hallmark+ currently peaks at #58 in the App Store charts, and The CW at #109. 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.*