# Zee 5 vs JioHotstar

The clearest difference is update cadence: Zee 5 at every 6 days against JioHotstar's fortnightly. Zee 5 also leads on chart position (#97 vs unranked). JioHotstar's advantage is ratings volume (102K vs 24K). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Zee 5 sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and JioHotstar sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Zee 5 against 4.6 for JioHotstar. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24K and 102K respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 15% and 15% positive.

Zee 5 ships an update every 6 days, JioHotstar fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zee 5 | JioHotstar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zee-5/id743691886/reviews) | **[4.6 (102K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jiohotstar/id934459219/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 24K | **102K** |
| Positive reviews | 14.8% of reviews | **15.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#97** | — |
| Size | 207 MB | 170 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Z5X Global FZ-LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1298929437) | [JIOSTAR INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/440687246) |

## What reviewers say

### Zee 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zee-5/id743691886)

**Currently charting:** #97 Top Grossing · Entertainment (US App Store)

Access a vast library of Indian and international movies, series, live sports, and TV shows in multiple languages. Enjoy personalized recommendations, offline downloads, and a dedicated kids' zone. Offers both free and premium content with various subscription options.

**Highlights:** Extensive library of movies and series, Live sports streaming, Popular TV shows and channels, Free entertainment options, Personalized recommendations, Download and watch offline, Dedicated kids' zone

**Features:** Vision Pro support, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ZEE5-Simply South-Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| ZEE5 Chaupal Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| HD Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| 4K Monthly | $17.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan (Discontinued) | $99.99 | per month |
| 4K Monthly (Discontinued) | $100.99 | per month |
| All Access Plan (Discontinued) | $109.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan (Discontinued) | $109.99 | per month |
| 4K Annual | $124.99 | per year |
| 40% Off (Discontinued) | $499.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent streaming quality
- 👍 Great content selection
- 💡 Affordable subscription
- 🎨 Visually appealing app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
- ⏱️ Slow loading times
- 📺 Casting and TV integration issues
- 🔒 Problematic subscription management

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during playback
- Subscription not recognized or renewed properly
- Inability to cancel subscription
- Incorrect content availability based on region

**Requested features**

- Improve search and browsing functionality
- Add resume playback feature
- Provide better language support and subtitles
- Enhance Chromecast and smart TV compatibility


### JioHotstar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jiohotstar/id934459219)

Stream live sports, blockbuster movies, and popular TV shows from around the world. Discover exclusive web series and short-form content for entertainment anytime, anywhere. Enjoy a vast library of global hits and regional favorites all in one place.

**Highlights:** Live sports streaming, Blockbuster movie library, Hit TV shows and web series, Exclusive Hotstar Specials, Short-form micro shows (Tadka), Content from HBO, Disney, Marvel

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mobile 3 Months Plan | $1.49 | per 3 months |
| Premium Monthly Plan | $3.49 | per month |
| Ent. monthly (Discontinued) | $3.99 | per month |
| Hotstar VIP (Discontinued) | $4.49 | per year |
| Super Annual Plan | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium (Discontinued) | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual (Discontinued) | $11.99 | per year |
| Premium Annual Plan | $16.49 | per year |
| Premium Membership Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Sports & Entertainment Annual | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 High-quality content
- 🚀 Reliable live streaming
- 🚀 Extensive Indian entertainment library

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent content availability
- 🐛 Buggy app performance
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🙅‍♀️ Poor customer service
- 🙄 Intrusive advertisements

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent playback issues and freezes
- Inability to resume content from where it was left off
- Inconsistent Chromecast/Apple TV integration

**Requested features**

- Improved content organization and search
- Seamless integration with Disney+ for US subscribers
- Consistent subtitle support across all content


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zee 5 free?

Zee 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is JioHotstar free?

JioHotstar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Zee 5 or JioHotstar?

JioHotstar is rated higher. Zee 5 averages 4.6 out of 5 from 24K ratings, while JioHotstar averages 4.6 from 102K ratings.

### Do Zee 5 or JioHotstar have ads?

Both Zee 5 and JioHotstar show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Zee 5 or JioHotstar?

Zee 5 ships an update every 6 days, and JioHotstar fortnightly. Most recently, Zee 5 was updated on November 4, 2026 and JioHotstar on November 4, 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.*