Thirteen Explore vs OXYGEN
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)
OXYGEN
Stream full episodes of popular true crime shows, watch live TV, and access on-demand content from a family of networks. Requires a TV provider subscription for full access.
- Watch latest episodes day after airing
- Live stream TV 24/7
- Access on-demand content
- Stream content from multiple networks
- Filter shows by network and genre
- Sign in with TV provider subscription
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Overview • The Oxygen app is the best place to catch up on the most recent season of your favorite shows, watch live TV, and stream past season content! • Download the Oxygen app now to watch full episodes of Cold Justice, Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins, Snapped, Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, AND MANY MORE! • The Oxygen app is a must-have for crime fans who don’t want to miss out on new episodes, bonus clips, sneak peaks, and more. Armchair detectives stay in the know with Oxygen – we live and breathe true crime! • Get started by signing in with your TV subscription (cable, satellite, or digital). The Oxygen app supports most TV providers, including DirecTV, Spectrum, Xfinity, Dish, and AT&T. App Features Watch Your Way • Watch the latest episodes of new Oxygen shows the day after they air on TV. • Live stream and schedule available 24/7 when signed in with your TV provider. Explore Versant Content • Access to on-demand content from across the Versant family of networks (including USA, SYFY, E!, Oxygen, MSNOW, CNBC, and Golf Channel). • Don't miss a second of the Premier League, the WNBA, A10 hoops, the PGA and LPGA Tours, and NASCAR! • Live stream your favorite Versant networks within the app. • Dedicated page for each network showcasing the hottest series. • Stream recent and throwback favorites, like Law & Order: SVU, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med. • Filter shows by network and genre while browsing. TV Provider Access • Sign in with your TV subscription to gain access to the entire catalog of VOD and Live content. Availability Notice • Versant's family of networks are only available to stream in the US and US territories. • Those outside the US will be unable to watch full episodes or live TV. • If you're traveling, you'll regain full access as soon as you return to the US. Comments or Questions • Please fill out our contact support form at https://help.versantmedia.com/s/contactsupport for assistance. • Please note: Use of the app is limited to the United States and its territories. Video is accessible via 3G, 4G, LTE, and Wi-Fi networks. Data charges may apply. • Privacy Policy: https://www.versantprivacy.com/privacy • Your Privacy Choices: https://www.versantprivacy.com/privacy/cookies • CA Notice: https://www.versantprivacy.com/privacy/california-consumer-privacy-act
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Thirteen Explore at 70% against OXYGEN's 33%. Thirteen Explore also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). OXYGEN's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, ratings volume, 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 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.8K and 17K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Thirteen Explore's written reviews are positive against 33% of OXYGEN's.
Thirteen Explore ships an update every 5 months, OXYGEN every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Thirteen Explore | OXYGEN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (5.8K ratings) — better | 4.6 (17K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 70.4% of reviews — better | 33.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5.8K | 17K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 240 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Thirteen/WNET | Versant Media LLC |
Customer experience
Thirteen Explore
OXYGEN
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
OXYGEN
From 17K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🙌 Great true crime content
- 💕 Favorite shows like Dateline and Bad Girls Club
- 🕵️♀️ Captivating true crime documentaries
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔁 Constantly having to log in and link TV provider
- ⚠️ Playback issues, video freezing, and skipping
- 🔇 Sound cutting out and audio problems
- 🤔 Confusing and frustrating user interface
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
OXYGEN
Reported bugs
4 issues- App frequently logs out of TV provider
- Videos fail to play or get stuck on ads
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Crashes and freezes during playback
Requested features
3 requests- Offer monthly subscription option without cable
- Improve episode tracking and resume playback
- Add more content and older seasons of shows
In-app purchases
Thirteen Explore
No in-app purchases
OXYGEN
No in-app purchases








