Comparison

The Spectrum vs KSL+

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

The Spectrum

Access in-depth local journalism, including community events, sports, and photography. Enjoy a fast, customizable reading experience with real-time notifications and offline access. Includes a digital replica of the print edition and access to other eNewspapers.

Highlights
  • In-depth local journalism
  • Streamlined, fast-loading experience
  • Real-time notifications
  • Customizable reading experience
  • Offline reading
  • eNewspaper replica
  • Access to USA TODAY and other eNewspapers
Read full description

From critically acclaimed storytelling to powerful photography to engaging videos — The Spectrum app delivers the local news that matters most to your community. APP FEATURES: • Access all of our in-depth journalism, including things to do around town, sports coverage from high school to the pros, and much more. • Enjoy a streamlined, fast-loading experience that makes it easy to view the stories, photos, and videos that matter to you. • Get breaking news, sports scores, and weather alerts with real-time notifications tailored to your interests. • Customize your experience by saving your favorite stories, adjusting text size, using night mode, or reading offline. • eNewspaper: Just like our print edition but accessible on your mobile devices. And access to USA TODAY and 200+ local eNewspapers. MORE INFORMATION: • Privacy Policy: https://cm.thespectrum.com/privacy/ • Terms of Service: https://cm.thespectrum.com/terms/ • Help Center: https://help.thespectrum.com • Subscriptions are charged to your account at confirmation of purchase and automatically renew each month or year, unless turned off in your account settings at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage your subscriptions and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to your Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription, where applicable. See "Subscription Support" in the app's Settings for more details and customer service contact information.

About

KSL+

Stream KSL-TV shows and live sports for free, without a cable subscription. Access on-demand videos, exclusive app-only content, and breaking news alerts for Utah. Enjoy features from local teams and popular shows.

Highlights
  • Free streaming of KSL-TV shows
  • Live sporting events
  • On Demand videos
  • Exclusive app-only content
  • Breaking news alerts
  • Local weather forecasts
Read full description

Stream your favorite KSL-TV shows and sporting events for FREE, anywhere at any time! No cable subscription required. With the newly designed KSL-TV app, you'll experience: • More of your favorite On Demand videos and multiple live stream options • Exclusive, app-only shows and content, including the binge-worth podcast COLD: The Susan Powell Case Files • Extensive feature content from Real Salt Lake, Utah Valley University and KSL-TV’s most popular shows • Easier navigation puts thousands of videos and shows at your fingertips • Up-to-the-minute forecasts for cities across Utah Get real-time alerts and extended coverage of breaking news happening in your neighborhood. Download the KSL-TV app now to get started!

Screenshots

The Spectrum3 screens
KSL+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Spectrum at 65% against KSL+'s 22%. The Spectrum also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.3). KSL+'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. The Spectrum sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. KSL+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Spectrum holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 159 and 230 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of The Spectrum's written reviews are positive against 22% of KSL+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Spectrum ships an update monthly, KSL+ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
The Spectrum versus KSL+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe SpectrumKSL+
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (159 ratings) — better3.3 (230 ratings)
Positive reviews65.2% of reviews — better21.6% of reviews
Number of ratings159230 — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS18.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size182 MB108 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperUSA TODAY Co., Inc.Bonneville International

Customer experience

The Spectrum

All ratings158 ratings
Positive81.0%
Neutral8.9%
Negative10.1%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive65.2%
Neutral4.3%
Negative30.4%

KSL+

All ratings230 ratings
Positive55.2%
Neutral6.5%
Negative38.3%
Written reviews74 reviews
Positive21.6%
Neutral6.8%
Negative71.6%

Bugs and requests

The Spectrum

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

KSL+

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App crashes on launch (requires reinstall)
  • Black screen on startup
  • Notifications don't link to correct stories
  • Videos fail to load or play repeatedly
  • App won't rotate to landscape mode
Show 9 more
  • Audio missing from broadcasts
  • Streaming freezes every few seconds
  • Apple TV app stopped working (January 2026)
  • Private Relay authentication issues
  • Stories pop up on lock screen but can't be found in app
  • Repetitive content during broadcasts
  • Comment section interaction broken
  • Feed takes minutes to load
  • Like and report buttons too close together

Requested features

9 requests
  • Tablet landscape mode optimization
  • Proper Chromecast/AirPlay casting support
  • Share/social media integration for stories
  • Fast forward and rewind controls
  • Schedule display for upcoming replays
Show 4 more
  • Story search that matches notifications
  • Landscape mode stability
  • Volume normalization between ads and content
  • Better notification-to-story navigation

In-app purchases

3 purchases

The Spectrum

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Digital Rate1 Month trial2 variants$9.991 Month
  • The Spectrum Digital Subscription1 Month trial$16.991 Month
  • The Spectrum Digital Subscription1 Year trial$69.991 Year
None

KSL+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is The Spectrum free?
The Spectrum is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is KSL+ free?
KSL+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, The Spectrum or KSL+?
The Spectrum is rated higher. The Spectrum averages 4.2 out of 5 from 159 ratings, while KSL+ averages 3.3 from 230 ratings.
Do The Spectrum or KSL+ have ads?
Both The Spectrum and KSL+ show ads.
Which is updated more often, The Spectrum or KSL+?
The Spectrum ships an update monthly, and KSL+ every 2 months. Most recently, The Spectrum was updated on September 21, 2026 and KSL+ on September 26, 2026.

Other comparisons