# OXYGEN vs Starting Gate

The clearest difference is ads: Starting Gate at none against OXYGEN's shown. Starting Gate also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 5 weeks). OXYGEN's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

OXYGEN ships an update every 5 weeks, Starting Gate every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OXYGEN | Starting Gate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oxygen/id700797306/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **17K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 35.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 240 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Versant Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840809836) | [SwanPowers, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1001043428) |

## What reviewers say

### OXYGEN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oxygen/id700797306)

Stream full episodes of popular true crime shows and watch live TV from a variety of networks. Access on-demand content and catch up on the latest episodes the day after they air. Requires a TV provider subscription for full access.

**Highlights:** Watch latest episodes the day after airing, Live stream TV networks 24/7, Access on-demand content from multiple networks, Filter shows by network and genre, Sign in with TV provider subscription, Stream recent and throwback favorites

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🙌 Great true crime content
- 💕 Favorite shows like Dateline and Bad Girls Club
- 🕵️‍♀️ Captivating true crime documentaries

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- Offer monthly subscription option without cable
- Improve episode tracking and resume playback
- Add more content and older seasons of shows


### Starting Gate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starting-gate/id6820213033)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OXYGEN free?

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

### Is Starting Gate free?

Starting Gate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do OXYGEN or Starting Gate have ads?

OXYGEN shows ads; Starting Gate does not.

### Which is updated more often, OXYGEN or Starting Gate?

OXYGEN ships an update every 5 weeks, and Starting Gate every 8 days. Most recently, OXYGEN was updated on November 14, 2026 and Starting Gate on November 13, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
