# SpectrumU vs StrideTV

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SpectrumU at none against StrideTV's 2. SpectrumU also leads on ratings volume (315 vs 8) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). StrideTV's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StrideTV sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. SpectrumU asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for SpectrumU against 4.5 for StrideTV. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SpectrumU has 315 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 10% of SpectrumU's written reviews are positive against 0% of StrideTV's.

SpectrumU ships an update every 2 weeks, StrideTV monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SpectrumU | StrideTV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (315 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrumu/id827887111/reviews) | **[4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stridetv/id1672652675/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **315** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **10.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 75 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Charter Communications](https://appshunter.io/developer/396670004) | [Ultimate Drill Book](https://appshunter.io/developer/1455826723) |

## What reviewers say

### SpectrumU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrumu/id827887111)

Stream live TV and thousands of on-demand shows and movies on your mobile device. Access your Spectrum TV experience on campus by connecting to your university's WiFi. Discover new content and manage your viewing with personalized guides and watchlists.

**Highlights:** Stream live TV on campus WiFi, Thousands of On Demand shows and movies, Discover Spectrum Originals, Cast to compatible TVs, Search by title, network, actor, or team, Personalize watchlists and guides

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Amazing features when working
- 📺 Many sport channels available
- 🌟 Great update for Chromecast support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App frequently crashes
- 🐛 Audio/video sync issues during ads
- 🐛 Audio cuts out after ad breaks
- 🐛 App freezes or won't load
- 🐛 Login issues (404 errors, sign-in problems)

**Reported bugs**

- Audio/video sync issues during ads
- Audio cuts out after ad breaks
- App crashes every few minutes
- Video doesn't pause during ads
- Login page redirects to 404

**Requested features**

- Fix ad break audio/video sync
- Fix audio cutting out after ads
- Fix app crashing
- Fix login page redirects to 404
- Fix live TV closing app


### StrideTV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stridetv/id1672652675)

Access a diverse range of entertainment and educational content focused on music, drum corps, and dance. Stream live events, listen to podcasts, and engage with a community of enthusiasts. Enjoy exclusive originals and create personalized playlists.

**Highlights:** Watch and download videos, Exclusive live streams, Podcast listening, Community engagement, Playlist creation, Background video playback

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StrideTV Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| StrideTV Annual | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SpectrumU free?

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

### Is StrideTV free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SpectrumU or StrideTV?

StrideTV is rated higher. SpectrumU averages 4.4 out of 5 from 315 ratings, while StrideTV averages 4.5 from 8 ratings.

### Do SpectrumU or StrideTV have ads?

SpectrumU shows ads; StrideTV does not.

### Which is updated more often, SpectrumU or StrideTV?

SpectrumU ships an update every 2 weeks, and StrideTV monthly. Most recently, SpectrumU was updated on September 23, 2026 and StrideTV on September 9, 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.*