Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

7 News HD vs MS NOW

7 News HD 4.7★ · Free to download · ⚠ stale 70
Winner 7 News HD
MS NOW 4.1★ · Free to download 45

7 News HD is the better choice for local news and live streaming, despite its own technical issues, while MS NOW struggles significantly with app functionality and a paywall for full content.

Full reviews: 7 News HD · MS NOW

7 News HD offers strong local news coverage and a generally positive user experience, though it has issues with video loading and app stability. MS NOW, despite its content, is plagued by persistent technical problems, frequent sign-in requirements, and limitations on free content, making it a frustrating experience for many users.

Head to head

Features and Content edge: 7 News HDR2R3R9R23
7 News HD 7 News HD is praised for its local news, weather, and sports coverage, with many users appreciating its role as a primary source for Boston-area information R2R23. However, some users desire more real-time updates and a search function R3. There are also requests for better integration with smart TV devices like Roku and Firestick R9R28R50.
MS NOW MS NOW's content is generally well-regarded, with users expressing appreciation for its reporting . However, a major point of contention is the inability to watch full live shows or complete episodes without a cable subscription, leading to frustration among users who have cut cable . Users also complain about the app forcing other brands like "Versant" .
Ease of Use and Interface edge: 7 News HDR3R4R7R10
7 News HD Users of 7 News HD report issues with videos not loading R4R10, the app crashing R24R49, and difficulties with notifications R7. Some find the volume inconsistent and dislike forced video playback R10R47. The lack of a search option is also a noted inconvenience R3.
MS NOW MS NOW faces significant criticism for its user experience, with frequent complaints about the app freezing , crashing , and requiring constant re-logging in with TV providers . Many users also report issues with the app not opening at all and a lack of landscape view or proper font sizing on iPads .
Reliability and Performance edge: 7 News HDR1R4R7R9
7 News HD 7 News HD users experience problems with live stream cutting out R9R43 and videos failing to load R4R10. Updates sometimes cause issues R1 but also improve performance . Notifications can be inconsistent or irrelevant R7.
MS NOW MS NOW has severe reliability issues, with numerous reports of the app being completely broken , freezing , crashing , and live streams not working . Connectivity to TV providers is a major problem, with frequent sign-in failures and the need to delete and reinstall the app . Audio issues like multiple tracks playing simultaneously are also reported .
Price and Value edge: 7 News HDR17R28R34R47
7 News HD 7 News HD is free to download and provides access to local news, which is seen as valuable, especially for those without cable R17R28R50. However, some users complain about an increasing number of ads R34R47 and the presence of political ads disguised as articles .
MS NOW MS NOW is also free to download, but its value is significantly diminished by the requirement of a cable subscription to access live shows and full content . Users express willingness to pay a small fee for full access but are frustrated by the current model . The app is also criticized for repetitive commercials, even for paying subscribers .
Pick 7 News HD if

You prioritize local news, weather, and sports from a specific region (Boston/New England) and are looking for a free app, even if it has occasional video loading and stability issues R2R23.

Pick MS NOW if

You have a cable TV subscription and are willing to tolerate significant app instability, frequent sign-in problems, and repetitive commercials to access MS NOW's content .

Evidence note: Both apps are free to download, but MS NOW's content is largely paywalled behind a TV provider login, which contributes to its lower lifetime rating and user frustration. Many negative reviews for MS NOW stem from this free-tier friction and severe technical issues.

Frequently asked

Can I watch live news on these apps without a cable subscription?
7 News HD users report being able to watch live news, especially for local coverage, even without cable R17R28R50, though some experience issues with the live stream R43. MS NOW, however, generally requires a cable subscription to watch live broadcasts and full shows, frustrating users who have cut cable .
Do these apps have issues with ads or video playback?
7 News HD users complain about videos not loading R4R10, forced video playback R10R47, and an increase in ads R34R47. MS NOW users are highly frustrated by repetitive commercials, sometimes playing five times in a row during breaks, and commercials playing over the beginning of shows .
Are there problems with app stability or crashing?
7 News HD users report occasional app crashes R24R49 and glitches R21, with some updates causing issues R1. MS NOW is widely criticized for severe stability issues, including freezing , frequent crashing , and not opening at all .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] 7 News HD 5/5 · US The while cast: I love this news station. Their beautiful people that know how to smile, laugh and be serious at at the same time. Love you guys
  2. [R3] 7 News HD 3/5 · US Just downloaded the App and…: So I just downloaded the App and, looking for a particular story I saw last night. Thought I’d be able to Search for it, only to find.,.NO Search option? I’m hoping I’m just having a senior moment and totally overlooked it: hence the 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and not 4. Also noted the Most Recent review was Nov 2024? I love Channel 7 News and I’d love to be able to give the App a 5-⭐
  3. [R9] 7 News HD 3/5 · US Would be better if compatible with Roku, Firestick: This app would be perfect if it could be installed on Roku or Firestick, it cuts out constantly when streaming from my iPhone.
  4. [R23] 7 News HD 5/5 · US My favorite local TV news network.: Channel 7 is second to none in the Boston News world.
  5. [R4] 7 News HD 1/5 · US Almost no videos load: Tried to watch the beach closing videos and only a static view is shown. No videos will load so unusable. I can't do alerts for a special upcoming program such as America 250, and if all I'll get is static view then you've got a useless app there. Deleted.
  6. [R7] 7 News HD 1/5 · US Annoying: I have had this app for years and years, but lately the notifications about the Patriots are becoming too much. I get it, they’re headed to the Super Bowl and it’s exciting, but I have this app for breaking news. Not to follow a sports team. Maybe the developers should consider adding preferences to the settings so we can decide what we want notifications for.
  7. [R10] 7 News HD 2/5 · US Not everything is a video!: Hey 7 developers…stop forcing videos down my throat. All I want to do is click on the stupid alert and read the stupid article. Stop bringing me to breaking videos that don’t play. Not everything is a breaking video.
  8. [R1] 7 News HD 1/5 · US Update: New update doesn’t work
  9. [R17] 7 News HD 5/5 · US Love 7News: I love the 7News app because my household has YouTube TV and they don’t have 7News on it so it’s the App or 7News at 10 on channel 56
  10. [R28] 7 News HD 1/5 · US Amazon fire TV: I love channel 7 Bostons news. I got rid of cable tv about two years ago. Now I just pay for internet and I use Amazon fire tv sticks. I love them and I love not paying a huge cable bill every month. The only problem is that the fire stick will not let me down load your free website! Maybe this is something you could look into with Amazon. I still watch your news but I have to watc
  11. [R34] 7 News HD 1/5 · US All Adds: Are used to use this app every day but now, every time I open the story, I have to watch 15 seconds of that before you even get to the news have deleted it since
  12. [R47] 7 News HD 1/5 · US Can’t disable auto play: This use to be a great app till someone ruined it. The latest update doesn’t allow you to silence ads and videos automatically play. This was my go to app but now it’s just terrible.
  13. [R43] 7 News HD 1/5 · US Live stream: NEVER WORKS,,
  14. [R50] 7 News HD 4/5 · US Fire stick: It would be great to watch 7News on an app for fire stick. You’re not on Youtubetv and with so much cable cutters, it would be great to be able to watch the most unbiased news in Boston
  15. [R21] 7 News HD 3/5 · US Come onnn: WAYYY too many glitches smh
  16. [R24] 7 News HD 3/5 · US Review: This is a great app. But I don’t know about everyone but this app keeps crashing on me so I can never get through a full paragraph. But other wise, when I need to know something and it’s not on TV yet, this is a great app to look for that information.
  17. [R49] 7 News HD 1/5 · US Disconnects: This app disconnects all the time and stops playing. You have to clear it and start over every time.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store