Comparison

USA Network vs CBS

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

Head to head
About

USA Network

Stream live TV, catch up on recent episodes of popular shows, and watch movies on demand. Access content from a family of networks, including sports and past season favorites. Requires a TV provider login for full access.

Highlights
  • Watch latest episodes the day after airing
  • Live stream TV 24/7
  • Access on-demand content from multiple networks
  • Stream live sports like PGA TOUR and Premier League
  • Filter shows by network and genre
  • Sign in with TV provider for full access
Features
Read full description

Overview • The USA Network app is the best place to catch up on the most recent season of your favorite shows, watch live TV, keep up with your favorite sports, and stream movies and past season content!​ • Download the USA Network app to watch WWE Smackdown, the PGA TOUR and LPGA TOUR, Premier League, NASCAR, the WNBA, The Rainmaker, Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman, AND MUCH MORE! • Get started by signing in with your TV subscription (cable, satellite, or digital). The USA Network app supports most TV providers, including DirecTV, Spectrum, Xfinity, Dish, and AT&T. App Features Watch Your Way • Watch the latest episodes of new USA Network 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

About

CBS

Stream the latest episodes of popular shows for free without a login. Access full seasons and live TV by signing in with your cable provider. Enjoy news, sports, and major live events on demand.

Highlights
  • Stream new episodes for free
  • No login required for new episodes
  • Watch on any device
  • Next-day episode streaming
  • Live TV with cable provider login
  • Access full seasons
Features
Read full description

With the CBS app you can watch the latest episodes of your favorite CBS shows for free at your convenience, no log-in required. You also have the option to sign in with your cable provider to access full seasons and stream Live TV from your local CBS station including live news, sports, entertainment, and can’t-miss live events like NFL on CBS, The Golden Globes, NCAA March Madness, and more. All for free, no additional subscription or monthly fee required. App Features: • Stream full episodes for free • Watch your favorite shows anywhere, on any device • Latest episodes available for next-day streaming* • Option to sign in with your cable provider to stream live TV and access full seasons of CBS shows *Live TV includes commercials and select shows have promotional interruptions.Content availability subject to change. Please note use of the CBS app is limited to the United States. CBS promotional offers for new subscribers only. Live TV subject to availability. Prices shown are in U.S. dollars. Other restrictions apply. Please note: This app features Nielsen’s proprietary measurement software which will allow you to contribute to market research, like Nielsen’s TV Ratings. Please visit http://www.nielsen.com/digitalprivacy for more information. CBS App Terms of Use: https://www.viacomcbs.legal/us/en/cbsi/terms-of-use Paramount Privacy Policy: https://privacy.paramount.com/policy Minors' Privacy Policy: https://privacy.paramount.com/childrens Do Not Sell My Personal Information: https://www.viacomcbsprivacy.com/donotsell

Screenshots

USA Network4 screens
CBS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CBS at 4.8 against USA Network's 4.5. CBS also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CBS holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26K and 71K respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 37% and 36% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

USA Network ships an update every 5 weeks, CBS fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 2, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
USA Network versus CBS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUSA NetworkCBS
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (26K ratings)4.8 (71K ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.8% of reviews — better35.9% of reviews
Number of ratings26K71K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#60 — better#108
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TViPhone, iPad, Apple TV
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size240 MB240 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperVersant Media LLCCBS Interactive

Customer experience

USA Network

All ratings25,940 ratings
Positive88.3%
Neutral3.0%
Negative8.8%
Written reviews473 reviews
Positive36.8%
Neutral4.4%
Negative58.8%

CBS

All ratings71,388 ratings
Positive95.6%
Neutral1.3%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews686 reviews
Positive35.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative59.6%

User reviews

USA Network

From 26K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Good app for watching shows
  • 💡 Provides free credits to watch content
  • 🤩 Enjoyable shows like Chrisley Knows Best and Queen of the South

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Constant crashes and bugs
  • 🤯 Requires re-linking TV provider frequently
  • 😡 Unreliable live streaming and playback
  • 🤬 Too many commercials and ads
  • 🤕 Poor app performance on various devices

CBS

From 71K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 High-quality content
  • 👍 Convenient app experience
  • 💡 Useful features like live TV and on-demand shows
  • 🙌 Consistent and reliable performance

Room to improve

  • 🚫 Region restrictions preventing access in certain countries
  • 📺 Too many commercials interrupting viewing experience
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and technical issues
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find desired content

Bugs and requests

USA Network

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes during playback
  • Video playback issues like freezing, skipping, and audio-video desync
  • Inability to resume watching from where user left off
  • TV provider login issues and constant re-authentication required

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add fast forward/rewind functionality
  • Improve Chromecast/casting support
  • Allow watching without TV provider login
  • Optimize app for newer devices and screen sizes

CBS

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Fatal errors when trying to watch shows
  • Playback issues like freezing, restarting, and losing progress
  • Compatibility problems on certain devices and platforms

Requested features

4 requests
  • Resume playback from where user left off
  • Expand content availability globally
  • Reduce number of commercials or provide ad-free option
  • Improve search functionality and content organization

In-app purchases

None

USA Network

No in-app purchases

None

CBS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is USA Network free?
USA Network is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CBS free?
CBS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, USA Network or CBS?
CBS is rated higher. USA Network averages 4.5 out of 5 from 26K ratings, while CBS averages 4.8 from 71K ratings.
Do USA Network or CBS have ads?
Both USA Network and CBS show ads.
Which is updated more often, USA Network or CBS?
USA Network ships an update every 5 weeks, and CBS fortnightly. Most recently, USA Network was updated on October 2, 2026 and CBS on October 2, 2026.
Which is more popular, USA Network or CBS?
USA Network currently peaks at #60 in the App Store charts, and CBS at #108. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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