# RaiPlay vs ESConnect

The clearest difference is ads: ESConnect at none against RaiPlay's shown. ESConnect also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

RaiPlay ships an update fortnightly, ESConnect every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RaiPlay | ESConnect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.3 (204 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raiplay/id501323740/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **204** | — |
| Positive reviews | 11.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 69 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RAI - Radio Televisione Italiana S.p.A.](https://appshunter.io/developer/378456083) | [GoSport SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/1600693584) |

## What reviewers say

### RaiPlay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raiplay/id501323740)

Access a vast library of Italian and international films, series, cultural programs, and entertainment content on demand. Stream live Rai channels and enjoy personalized features like watchlists and downloads. Registration is free and secure.

**Highlights:** On-demand films and series, Live streaming of Rai channels, Cultural and entertainment programs, Personalized watchlists, Offline downloads, TV Guide and Replay

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🇮🇹 Good app for watching Italian TV
- 🇺🇸 Allows Italians abroad to access content
- 🎥 Excellent content selection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
- 🔌 Unreliable streaming, constant buffering
- 📍 Limited availability outside of Italy
- 🤖 Poor user interface and navigation
- 🔒 Difficult login and account management

**Reported bugs**

- Playback issues, videos not loading properly
- App crashing on launch or during use
- Disappearing downloaded content
- Inconsistent behavior across platforms

**Requested features**

- Offline viewing and download capabilities
- Improved content availability for users abroad
- Better organization of on-demand content
- Support for external device controls (e.g. AirPlay)


### ESConnect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esconnect/id6744917277)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RaiPlay free?

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

### Is ESConnect free?

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

### Do RaiPlay or ESConnect have ads?

RaiPlay shows ads; ESConnect does not.

### Which is updated more often, RaiPlay or ESConnect?

RaiPlay ships an update fortnightly, and ESConnect every 10 days. Most recently, RaiPlay was updated on October 23, 2026 and ESConnect on October 9, 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.*