Best for Apple music users
iTunes vs Google TV vs VLC for Android: which media app should you choose?
Choose iTunes for Apple-centered music, Google TV to find movies and shows across services, or VLC for Android for flexible, ad-free playback of local media.
At a glance
| App | Google Play rating | Price | Platforms | Age rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iTunesApple | 4.7 out of 5130,000,000 ratings | Free | Everyone | |
 Google TVGoogle LLC | 3.9 out of 52,879,818 ratings | Free | Teen | |
 VLC for AndroidVideolabs | 4.1 out of 51,993,853 ratings | Free | Everyone |
Ratings and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 7, 2026. Listings change over time.
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How we compared them
All three apps are free media tools, but they serve different purposes. iTunes centers on music and Apple’s media ecosystem, Google TV brings movies and shows from multiple services together, and VLC for Android plays a broad range of audio and video formats.
This comparison weighs their features, trade-offs, Google Play ratings and reach to help you decide which app fits your devices and the way you watch or listen.
How we compared them
We compared the apps’ stated uses and features, alongside Google Play ratings, install figures, prices, ads and in-app purchases. The store figures were read on November 7, 2026; ratings and install counts are snapshots, not measures of playback quality.
The comparison also considers the practical trade-offs described for each app, such as device compatibility, streaming needs and format support. No data-safety declarations were supplied for these apps, so data safety is not part of the assessment.
iTunes
Apple
- Google Play
- 4.7 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Apple users who want a music library and personalized playlists
iTunes is the most music-focused choice of the three, combining a large music library, high-quality audio streaming and personalized playlists. Its integration with Apple devices makes it a natural fit for people who already use Apple’s ecosystem.
That focus is less useful if you rely on non-Apple devices: compatibility is limited, and syncing can sometimes be troublesome. Premium features require a subscription, and the app may feel demanding on older devices.
What we like
- Large music library and personalized playlists
- High-quality audio streaming
- Integration with Apple devices
What to know
- Less compatible with non-Apple devices than VLC
- Premium features require a subscription
Google TV
Google LLC
- Google Play
- 3.9 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Viewers looking for movies and shows across streaming services
Google TV is the strongest fit for finding and watching movies and shows in one place. It combines discovery across streaming services with personalized recommendations and voice search, features neither iTunes nor VLC centers on.
It depends more on an internet connection than VLC’s local-media playback, and offline viewing is limited. Some features require a Google account, while occasional bugs with certain streaming apps can interrupt the experience.
What we like
- Brings multiple streaming services together
- Personalized recommendations and voice search
- Free to download and contains no ads
What to know
- Limited offline viewing compared with local playback in VLC
- Some features require a Google account
VLC for Android
Videolabs
- Google Play
- 4.1 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- People who want a free player for varied local media formats
VLC for Android is the most flexible general-purpose player here: it supports a wide range of audio and video formats, offers subtitle synchronization and can stream media over a network. Unlike iTunes and Google TV, it has no ads or in-app purchases.
Its interface can take more effort to learn, and it is less focused on discovering commercial movies and shows. Chromecast support is not native, and high-resolution video may sometimes lag.
What we like
- Supports a wide range of media formats
- Free with no ads or in-app purchases
- Includes subtitle synchronization and network streaming
What to know
- Less straightforward for new users than iTunes or Google TV
- No native Chromecast support
Which one should you pick?
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Frequently Asked Questions
01Which app is best for playing local video files?
VLC for Android is the strongest choice for local files because it supports a wide range of audio and video formats.
02Which app is best for finding movies and TV shows?
Google TV is designed to discover and watch movies and shows across multiple streaming services, with recommendations and voice search.
03Is VLC for Android free and ad-free?
Yes. VLC for Android is free and has no ads or in-app purchases.
04Which app suits someone using Apple devices?
iTunes is the closest fit, with music features and integration aimed at Apple devices. Its compatibility is more limited outside Apple’s ecosystem.
About This Listing
App-foxy compares apps independently. We don't make, own or distribute any of these apps and have no affiliation with their developers, Google or Apple. Names, icons and trademarks belong to their owners; store details and fees are shown for reference and can change.