# The CW vs USA Network

The clearest difference is rating: USA Network at 4.5 against The CW's 3.2. USA Network also leads on review sentiment (37% vs 11%) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

USA Network holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22K and 27K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of The CW's written reviews are positive against 37% of USA Network's.

The CW ships an update monthly, USA Network every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The CW | USA Network |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-cw/id491730359/reviews) | **[4.5 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usa-network/id661695783/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22K | **27K** |
| Positive reviews | 10.9% of reviews | **37.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 240 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [The CW Network](https://appshunter.io/developer/490222213) | [Versant Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840809836) |

## 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


### USA Network

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usa-network/id661695783)

Stream live TV, catch up on recent episodes of popular shows, and watch movies on demand. Access content from a family of networks, including sports and past season favorites. Requires a TV provider login for full access.

**Highlights:** Watch latest episodes the day after airing, Live stream TV 24/7, Access on-demand content from multiple networks, Stream live sports like PGA TOUR and Premier League, Filter shows by network and genre, Sign in with TV provider for full access

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good app for watching shows
- 💡 Provides free credits to watch content
- 🤩 Enjoyable shows like Chrisley Knows Best and Queen of the South

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant crashes and bugs
- 🤯 Requires re-linking TV provider frequently
- 😡 Unreliable live streaming and playback
- 🤬 Too many commercials and ads
- 🤕 Poor app performance on various devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during playback
- Video playback issues like freezing, skipping, and audio-video desync
- Inability to resume watching from where user left off
- TV provider login issues and constant re-authentication required

**Requested features**

- Add fast forward/rewind functionality
- Improve Chromecast/casting support
- Allow watching without TV provider login
- Optimize app for newer devices and screen sizes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The CW free?

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

### Is USA Network free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The CW or USA Network?

USA Network is rated higher. The CW averages 3.2 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while USA Network averages 4.5 from 27K ratings.

### Do The CW or USA Network have ads?

Both The CW and USA Network show ads.

### Which is updated more often, The CW or USA Network?

The CW ships an update monthly, and USA Network every 5 weeks. Most recently, The CW was updated on October 21, 2026 and USA Network on October 21, 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.*