Thirteen Explore vs The Network TV
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Thirteen Explore
Stream full episodes of popular PBS and THIRTEEN programs, including Masterpiece, Nature, and Frontline, directly to your iPhone and iPad. Access New York-centric shows and livestream THIRTEEN if you're in the NYC metro area. Cast content to your TV using Apple TV and Chromecast.
- Stream full episodes
- Masterpiece, Nature, Frontline
- New York-centric shows
- Livestream THIRTEEN (NYC)
- Cast to TV
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Your favorite THIRTEEN and PBS programs like Masterpiece, Nature and Frontline - streamed right to your iPhone and iPad! THIRTEEN Explore includes: * Full episodes from programs such as Masterpiece, American Masters, PBS NewsHour, Great Performances, Nature, NOVA, Antiques Roadshow and Frontline * New York-centric shows like NYC-ARTS, MetroFocus, Treasures of New York and NJTV News * Stream via Apple TV and Chromecast to your TV * Livestream THIRTEEN (must be in the NYC metropolitan area)
The Network TV
Discover exclusive original series with this streaming platform. Enjoy new dramas and comedies released regularly, all without any subscription fees or ads. Stream your favorite shows anytime, anywhere, on any device.
- Exclusive original series
- Drama Tuesdays
- Comedy Thursdays
- No subscription required
- Stream on any device
- Ad-supported content
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If you know about The Network… You know about The Network. We release only original series - With Drama Tuesdays and Comedy Thursdays, there’s a premium show for everyone. We believe premium content doesn’t have to cost our subscribers a penny. And we also believe that you shouldn’t have to waste your time searching for content - That’s why we release two shows at a time, and nothing else! What you'll love about The Network: Free Premium Content that you literally can’t find anywhere else. We only release Network originals. No Subscription Required: Say goodbye to monthly bills! The Network is completely free to use. No trials, no credit cards - just immersive stories. Stream Anytime, Anywhere: Whether you're at home or on the go, The Network is ready to entertain you. Stream your favorite series seamlessly on your smartphone, tablet, or smart TV. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable streaming journey with The Network. Download now and start binge-watching your new favorite series - all for free! Privacy Policy: thenetwork.stream/privacy Terms of Use: thenetwork.stream/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Thirteen Explore at 70% against The Network TV's 25%. Thirteen Explore also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.7) and ratings volume (5.8K vs 61). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Thirteen Explore holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Thirteen Explore has 5.8K ratings behind it against 61, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Thirteen Explore's written reviews are positive against 25% of The Network TV's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and July 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Thirteen Explore | The Network TV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (5.8K ratings) — better | 2.7 (61 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 70.4% of reviews — better | 25.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5.8K — better | 61 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 5 months |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Thirteen/WNET | BH Media Holdings LLC |
Customer experience
Thirteen Explore
The Network TV
User reviews
Thirteen Explore
From 5.8K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Quality entertainment and education
- 👍 Variety of programming
- 👍 Reliable and trustworthy content
- 👍 Ability to watch missed episodes
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy app with login and playback issues
- 🤔 Lack of user-friendly features (e.g., episode tracking, Chromecast support)
- 🤔 Limited content availability for Passport members
The Network TV
From 61 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎬 Great shows like The Green Veil
- 💰 Free content
- 📺 App works well on some devices
- 👍 Positive user experience for some
Room to improve
- 🔌 App not available on certain devices
- ⚠️ Frequent app crashes and errors
- 🔍 Limited content (only 2 shows)
- 🔒 Issues with account registration and password reset
- ⏪ Inability to properly rewind/resume playback
Bugs and requests
Thirteen Explore
Reported bugs
3 issues- Login screen freezes or doesn't work
- Playback issues, such as app crashing or getting kicked out
- Incompatibility with certain devices (e.g., Firestick)
Requested features
3 requests- Add episode tracking and resume playback functionality
- Improve Chromecast support with features like closed captions
- Expand Passport content library to include more archived shows
The Network TV
No bugs or feature requests surfaced in reviews.
In-app purchases
Thirteen Explore
No in-app purchases
The Network TV
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Thirteen Explore free?
Is The Network TV free?
Which has better reviews, Thirteen Explore or The Network TV?
Do Thirteen Explore or The Network TV have ads?
Which is updated more often, Thirteen Explore or The Network TV?
Other comparisons
