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

YouTube vs X

YouTube 4.7★ · Free to download 70
Winner YouTube
X 4.6★ · Free to download 55

YouTube is the better choice for general video content and entertainment, despite its recent technical issues and ad frequency, while X is better for real-time news and diverse opinions, but struggles with content moderation and technical bugs.

Full reviews: YouTube · X

YouTube offers a vast library of video content and entertainment, though users are frustrated with frequent crashes and excessive ads. X excels as a platform for news and free speech, but faces criticism for moderation issues, bots, and technical glitches.

Head to head

Features & Content Variety edge: YouTubeR2R8R9R11
YouTube YouTube is praised for its wide array of content, including videos, games, editing tools, and music, with users finding it amazing and informative R8. However, some users dislike the push for 'Shorts' content, feeling it tries to mimic TikTok R9R11. Users also desire features like a repost button R2 and better organization for subscriptions and playlists .
X X is valued for being a fast platform for news and public conversation . Users appreciate the ability to share views freely R65 and the translation feature . However, some find it difficult to find specific subject matter , and there are complaints about the prevalence of bots, AI-generated content, and engagement farming .
Ease of Use & User Experience tieR3R4R7R10
YouTube Many YouTube users report significant issues with the app crashing immediately upon opening, requiring frequent uninstallation and reinstallation R4R7R10R13. Other complaints include ads freezing videos R3, a buggy interface , and poor UI decisions like lack of separation between videos in the subscription feed .
X X users experience various bugs, such as inability to click on tweets on iPad , messages not working , videos not playing after connection loss , and issues with podcasts . Some users also report videos playing in the background after closing the app and posts failing to send . The platform is criticized for an experience driven by engagement rather than substance .
Reliability & Performance tieR3R4R7R10
YouTube YouTube's reliability has decreased for many users, with frequent app crashes being a major concern R4R7R10R13. Users also report ads freezing videos R3 and general bugginess . Uploading videos can also fail , and analytics may be inaccurate .
X X also suffers from reliability issues, including messages not working for a week , videos failing to play after losing connection , and posts not sending . Playback seek function for recorded spaces on iOS is reported as not working , and the app can quit when trying to clear media cache on iPad .
Price & Value edge: YouTubeR14R18R21R53
YouTube YouTube is free to download, but users are frustrated by an excessive number of ads, especially in longer videos R14R18R21R53. Some find the ads so frequent they interrupt the viewing experience and get stuck R53. Premium prices are considered too high R21.
X X is free to download, but users complain about a 'pay-to-play' model where profiles are not acknowledged unless subscribed . The cost for verification is considered too high for ordinary users . There's also a report of the app trying to charge for usage .
Support & Moderation edge: YouTubeR1R21R22R33
YouTube YouTube users express concerns about content moderation, citing inappropriate ads and videos that should not be on the platform R21. There are also complaints about strict language and video rules R1, and a perceived bias in content control . The removal of the dislike button is unpopular, as it limits user feedback on content R22R33.
X X faces significant criticism regarding content moderation, with users reporting an increase in racist and unpleasant accounts , anti-Semites and lunatics having too much voice R76, and the presence of pornography and CP . Despite claims of 'free speech' R61R65, users also report censorship and shadowbanning R75. Some users have been banned for 'inauthentic behaviors' with no clear reason or effective appeal process .
Pick YouTube if

You want a vast library of video content, from entertainment to educational, and are willing to tolerate frequent ads and occasional app crashes R8. You prioritize a platform with a broader range of content types beyond just social posts R8.

Pick X if

You are looking for a platform for real-time news, diverse opinions, and public conversation, and value the ability to express yourself freely R65. You are prepared to navigate through a significant amount of controversial content and technical glitches R76.

Evidence note: Both apps have a high volume of negative recent reviews, primarily focusing on technical issues and content moderation. YouTube's negative reviews are heavily skewed towards app crashing and excessive ads, while X's are dominated by content moderation, bots, and the 'free speech' debate.

Frequently asked

Why does YouTube keep crashing?
Many YouTube users report that the app frequently crashes immediately upon opening, often requiring them to uninstall and reinstall the app to temporarily resolve the issue R4R7R10R13. This problem seems to have become more prevalent with recent updates.
Is X truly a 'free speech' platform?
While X is touted by some as a 'free speech' platform where users can share their views without getting kicked off R65, many users dispute this, claiming it is an 'approved speech' app with censorship, shadowbanning, and a lack of true freedom of speech R61R75. There are also significant concerns about the prevalence of hate speech, anti-Semitism, and pornography that is not policed R76.

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] YouTube 5/5 · US Some fun suggestions!!: I think YT is a 5 star app but I have some suggestions to improve the app and make it more enjoyable for users! My first one is making a repost button. I love watching funny content and sometimes if it’s relatable I wish there was a button to show that I relate other than the comments section. It could be in the same area we’re you send videos to your friends on YT and it c
  2. [R8] YouTube 5/5 · US Its just amazing: Its just amazing with all content and others its not just videos there could be games, editing, even other types like youtube tv and regular also even music on seperate apps
  3. [R9] YouTube 3/5 · US Shorts: Please stop trying to be tik tok, I deleted that app for a reason
  4. [R11] YouTube 4/5 · US Please fix shorts: I’ve been watching YouTube for years because I prefer the long-form content to instagram or TikTok. I fragrant and TikTok are very addictive and I find that the mindless scrolling takes over my life. I used YouTube instead but now that they added shorts they push almost exclusively shorts. When I open the app it’s automatically showing me shorts without me even tapping the video
  5. [R3] YouTube 3/5 · US Ads freezing the video: Since the most recent update, any time an ad plays the video ends up freezing. I have to close the app and restart it in order to watch the video. Fix this.
  6. [R4] YouTube 1/5 · US Application keeps crashing: Noticed about 2 days ago the app started crashing again and again. Only fix I have found is uninstalling and re-installing the application.
  7. [R7] YouTube 2/5 · US Keeps crashing: Why does it keep crashing every time I open it? I have to uninstall the app and keep reinstalling it. I’ve had to do it at least 20 times in the past three days.
  8. [R10] YouTube 1/5 · US YouTube crashes: YouTube crashes immediately upon opening. Deleting and reinstalling the app only resolves the issue temporarily for a few hours before the crashing recurs. Environment: OS: iOS 18.7, App Version: YouTube 21.26.4
  9. [R14] YouTube 5/5 · US Too many Commercial: Enjoy my time on YouTube but too many ads ( I know that’s how they make money) still good stuff
  10. [R18] YouTube 3/5 · US Too many ads: WAY too many ads for one video, especially to the longer videos like every 5 minutes there’s an add and the tiny ad box that appears in the corner when you skip one is just taking away from the experience of watching. It’s getting tiring but overall, I love the app and just see the ads as a little too excessive.
  11. [R21] YouTube 3/5 · US Fix your app: YouTube isn’t terrible but I have some complaints 1. Too many adds 2. Bring back the dislike button 3. Lower premium prices 4. Work on moderation I have seen videos and especially adds that should not be on YouTube.
  12. [R53] YouTube 4/5 · US Like it but the ads are a bit annoying: I don’t mind the ads but what I don’t like is that when they are so close together and when the ad gets stuck an I can’t get back to the video 😡 I have to click out of the video go back a find it and pick up where I left off. It very annoying and half of the ads are for stuff i ALREADY KNOW ABOUT! Please fix this
  13. [R1] YouTube 2/5 · US Crazy language and video rules: Crazy language and video rules
  14. [R22] YouTube 1/5 · US Where’s the dislike: No dislike button is lame
  15. [R33] YouTube 3/5 · GB 👎: You really has upset me that you have removed the thumbs down to feature on YouTube short shorts. It’s like we can’t have an opinion anymore.
  16. [R13] YouTube 1/5 · US App doesn’t work: For over a week, every day i have to redownload the app because for some reason, it won’t even let me open the app. It just crashes immediately.
  17. [R61] X 1/5 · US FrEeeeeSpEEch*: This is NOT a free speech app. It is an approved speech app. Same as it ever was.
  18. [R65] X 4/5 · US Best Social Media App: This is my favorite social media app. Enjoy the real people able to share their view without getting kicked off. Good for hearing what’s really going on from reliable accounts, since the actual cable news is narrated. The bots are annoying, but those are on all the apps. I also wish more people would see posts and respond. It’s so big in the world the app is more autonomous
  19. [R75] X 3/5 · US Good, but...: Elon touts that it's the free speech platform, but it's really not, due to lots of censorship and shadowbanning of anyone who dares criticizes the oven dodgers.
  20. [R76] X 1/5 · US X has too many haters: X has too many haters and allows anti-Semites and lunatics to have too much of a voice. This has put Jewish People and the State of Israel in danger

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