# The CW vs X101

The clearest difference is review sentiment: X101 at 60% against The CW's 11%. X101 also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.2) and ads (none vs shown). The CW's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (22K vs 7). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

X101 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The CW has 22K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of The CW's written reviews are positive against 60% of X101's.

The CW ships an update monthly, X101 every 11 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The CW | X101 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-cw/id491730359/reviews) | **[4.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x101/id494331357/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 10.9% of reviews | **60.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 39 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The CW Network](https://appshunter.io/developer/490222213) | [Eves Media Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/494331360) |

## What reviewers say

### The CW

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

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


### X101

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x101/id494331357)

Stream your favorite local classic hits radio station on the go. Access playlists, news, podcasts, and connect via social media.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, Access to playlists, Local news updates, Podcast listening, Social media integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The CW free?

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

### Is X101 free?

X101 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The CW or X101?

X101 is rated higher. The CW averages 3.2 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while X101 averages 4.7 from 7 ratings.

### Do The CW or X101 have ads?

The CW shows ads; X101 does not.

### Which is updated more often, The CW or X101?

The CW ships an update monthly, and X101 every 11 months. Most recently, The CW was updated on October 23, 2026 and X101 on October 23, 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.*