# YouTube vs Slate

The clearest difference is rating: YouTube at 4.7 against Slate's 1.0. YouTube also leads on ratings volume (50M vs 4) and chart position (#1 vs unranked). Slate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. YouTube sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Slate asks for nothing beyond the download.

YouTube holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: YouTube has 50M ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | YouTube | Slate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (50M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/youtube/id544007664/reviews)** | [1.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slate-canvas-recorder/id1099076463/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **50M** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | — | 12.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | — |
| Size | 377 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Good Effect](https://appshunter.io/developer/432391844) |

## What reviewers say

### YouTube

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/youtube/id544007664)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #2 Top Grossing, #3 Top Free · Photo & Video, #48 Top Free (US App Store)

Watch and subscribe to your favorite channels, discover trending content, and connect with creators. Create and upload your own videos, or enjoy live streams. Offers options for family viewing and creator support.

**Highlights:** Personalized recommendations, Channel subscriptions, Content exploration, Community interaction, Video creation and upload, Live streaming, Channel memberships

**Features:** Siri integration, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Lite | $11.99 | per month |
| YouTube Premium | $20.99 | per month |
| YouTube Premium | $20.99 | per month |
| Youtube Premium Family | $34.99 | per month |
| YouTube Premium Family | $34.99 | per month |
| Super Chat | $1.99 | one-time |
| Movies & Shows | $3.99 | one-time |
| Super Chat | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Great app
- 🎨 Diverse content
- 🎓 Educational videos
- 🎶 Excellent music selection
- 🌐 Vast library of videos

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Too many ads
- 🤖 Biased algorithm recommendations
- 🔇 Inability to listen with screen off
- 🔍 Difficult to find relevant content
- 🔒 Censorship concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Video playback issues
- Subscription tab bugs
- Inconsistent UI changes
- Syncing problems across devices
- Unreliable video recommendations

**Requested features**

- Bring back dislike button
- Improve playlist management
- Add option to customize video quality
- Enhance background playback
- Improve comment section functionality


### Slate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slate-canvas-recorder/id1099076463)

Record your screen as you type text, add photos, and music to create engaging videos. Share your creations easily on social media platforms.

**Highlights:** Real-time canvas recording, Text input animation, Add photos and music, Square video clipping, Social media sharing, Diverse effects

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is YouTube free?

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

### Is Slate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, YouTube or Slate?

YouTube is rated higher. YouTube averages 4.7 out of 5 from 50M ratings, while Slate averages 1.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do YouTube or Slate have ads?

YouTube shows ads; Slate does not.

### Which is updated more often, YouTube or Slate?

YouTube ships an update weekly, and Slate weekly. Most recently, YouTube was updated on November 6, 2026 and Slate on November 2, 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.*