# The CW vs Paramount+

The clearest difference is rating: Paramount+ at 4.6 against The CW's 3.3. Paramount+ also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 11%) and ratings volume (926K vs 22K). The CW's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Paramount+ sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. The CW asks for nothing beyond the download.

Paramount+ holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Paramount+ has 926K ratings behind it against 22K, 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 33% of Paramount+'s.

The CW ships an update every 4 weeks, Paramount+ fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The CW | Paramount+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-cw/id491730359/reviews) | **[4.6 (926K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paramount-plus/id530168168/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22K | **926K** |
| Positive reviews | 10.9% of reviews | **33.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#3** |
| Size | 40 MB | 199 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [The CW Network](https://appshunter.io/developer/490222213) | [CBS Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/295669712) |

## 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


### Paramount+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paramount-plus/id530168168)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Grossing · Entertainment, #6 Top Grossing, #13 Top Free · Entertainment, #63 Top Free (US App Store)

Stream exclusive originals, blockbuster movies, and live sports. Enjoy content from CBS, Nickelodeon, and more. Premium plans offer ad-free viewing and live local CBS station access.

**Highlights:** Exclusive originals, Blockbuster movies, Live sports (NFL, UFC, Champions League), Content from CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, On-demand full episodes, Multiple user profiles, Kids Mode

**Features:** SharePlay

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Paramount+ Essential | $5.99 | per month |
| Paramount+ Essential: Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Paramount+ Essential | $8.99 | per month |
| Paramount+ Limited Commercials | $9.99 | per month |
| Paramount+ Premium/Showtime | $12.99 | per month |
| Paramount+ Premium | $13.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast app performance
- 💡 Great content selection
- 👍 Smooth streaming experience
- 🤩 Awesome shows like Star Trek

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- 🔍 Difficult navigation and UI
- 💸 Too many ads even in paid plans
- 🤯 Unreliable downloads and offline viewing

**Reported bugs**

- Audio/video sync issues
- Disappearing downloaded content
- Inconsistent playback controls
- Streaming errors and black screens

**Requested features**

- Add a watchlist or favorites feature
- Improve episode resume functionality
- Allow skipping of ads
- Provide more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The CW free?

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

### Is Paramount+ free?

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

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

Paramount+ is rated higher. The CW averages 3.3 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Paramount+ averages 4.6 from 926K ratings.

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

Both The CW and Paramount+ show ads.

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

The CW ships an update every 4 weeks, and Paramount+ fortnightly. Most recently, The CW was updated on October 13, 2026 and Paramount+ on October 14, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*