# Thirteen Explore vs The Network TV

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.

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 28, 2026 and July 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thirteen Explore | The Network TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thirteen-explore/id598509773/reviews)** | [2.7 (61 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-network-tv/id6476564624/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.8K** | 61 |
| Positive reviews | **70.4% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 21 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Thirteen/WNET](https://appshunter.io/developer/446797258) | [BH Media Holdings LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1727150093) |

## What reviewers say

### Thirteen Explore

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thirteen-explore/id598509773)

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.

**Highlights:** Stream full episodes, Masterpiece, Nature, Frontline, New York-centric shows, Livestream THIRTEEN (NYC), Cast to TV

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Quality entertainment and education
- 👍 Variety of programming
- 👍 Reliable and trustworthy content
- 👍 Ability to watch missed episodes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with login and playback issues
- 🤔 Lack of user-friendly features (e.g., episode tracking, Chromecast support)
- 🤔 Limited content availability for Passport members

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-network-tv/id6476564624)

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.

**Highlights:** Exclusive original series, Drama Tuesdays, Comedy Thursdays, No subscription required, Stream on any device, Ad-supported content

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎬 Great shows like The Green Veil
- 💰 Free content
- 📺 App works well on some devices
- 👍 Positive user experience for some

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔌 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thirteen Explore free?

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

### Is The Network TV free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Thirteen Explore or The Network TV?

Thirteen Explore is rated higher. Thirteen Explore averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5.8K ratings, while The Network TV averages 2.7 from 61 ratings.

### Do Thirteen Explore or The Network TV have ads?

Both Thirteen Explore and The Network TV show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Thirteen Explore or The Network TV?

Thirteen Explore ships an update every 5 months, and The Network TV every 5 months. Most recently, Thirteen Explore was updated on September 28, 2026 and The Network TV on July 8, 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.*