Comparison

KPBS+ vs WQED+

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

Head to head
About

KPBS+

Access locally and nationally produced news, entertainment, educational, and lifestyle programming from your NPR and PBS station. Discover stories that inspire thought, dreams, and community connection.

Highlights
  • News programming
  • Entertainment content
  • Educational programs
  • Lifestyle shows
  • Community resources
  • Locally produced stories
Features
Read full description

KPBS is your NPR and PBS station. For over 60 years we have been right here in San Diego providing locally and nationally-produced news, entertainment, educational, and lifestyle programming for all ages, as well as events and resources that help you build a strong and vibrant community. KPBS provides stories that make us think, help us dream, and keep us connected.

About

WQED+

Stream PBS and local programming from Pittsburgh's public television station. Enjoy on-demand access to thousands of shows, curated collections, and live channels. A membership unlocks exclusive content and early access to new episodes.

Highlights
  • On-demand PBS and local programs
  • Curated collections and personalized recommendations
  • Livestream WQED channels
  • Early access to new episodes
  • Exclusive member content
Features
Read full description

Watch PBS & WQED programs from Pittsburgh's public television station. WQED+ offers all your favorite PBS shows, local stories and livestream WQED channels in an improved streaming experience. If you’re already a WQED Member with access to Passport, simply log in with your existing password and start streaming. You’ll find WQED+ to be faster and smarter, with intelligent navigation, curated collections, and personalized recommendations. ABOUT WQED+ WQED+ is an all-in-one streaming experience. Members who donate at least $5/month or $60/year unlock: - On-demand access to thousands of PBS and local programs - Complete series and special collections like The Rick Sebak Collection and Ken Burns’ The American Revolution - Early access to new episodes and exclusive content Your membership does more than unlock shows — it keeps trusted local storytelling free for everyone. If you prefer to explore the app first, you can watch previews, select recent episodes, and live channels for free. LIVESTREAM WQED CHANNELS* WQED: Core PBS programming WQED Create: Cooking, crafts, and travel WQED World: Nonfiction, news, and documentary The 412: 24/7 Local Pittsburgh content PBS KIDS: 24/7 children's television * Live streaming only available within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

Screenshots

KPBS+3 screens
WQED+3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: WQED+ at 50% against KPBS+'s 0%. WQED+ also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.8). KPBS+'s advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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

WQED+ holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of KPBS+'s written reviews are positive against 50% of WQED+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KPBS+ ships an update every 2 months, WQED+ every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 7, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
KPBS+ versus WQED+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKPBS+WQED+
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (5 ratings)4.7 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings57 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TViPhone, iPad, Apple TV
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB45 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperSan Diego State University FoundationWQED Multimedia

Customer experience

KPBS+

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

WQED+

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

KPBS+

No in-app purchases

None

WQED+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is KPBS+ free?
KPBS+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is WQED+ free?
WQED+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, KPBS+ or WQED+?
WQED+ is rated higher. KPBS+ averages 3.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while WQED+ averages 4.7 from 7 ratings.
Do KPBS+ or WQED+ have ads?
Neither KPBS+ nor WQED+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KPBS+ or WQED+?
KPBS+ ships an update every 2 months, and WQED+ every 6 weeks. Most recently, KPBS+ was updated on October 7, 2026 and WQED+ on October 7, 2026.

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