Pure Flix and TBN+ are the two largest Christian streaming catalogs in North America, and the choice between them hinges on one number: Pure Flix costs ~$7.99/month; TBN+ is free. Pure Flix is a paid subscription built around family-safe Christian and values-aligned entertainment - theatrical faith films, originals, kids shows, and a curated library engineered for parental peace-of-mind. TBN+ is the free streaming home of Trinity Broadcasting Network - six live linear channels, a deep Pentecostal/Charismatic preaching catalog, kids content on the Smile channel, and all of it funded by donor support rather than subscriptions.
The deeper difference is editorial slant and use case. Pure Flix is neutral on denomination and skews toward indie Christian films and Hallmark-style content. TBN+ is Pentecostal/Charismatic by design - the preachers, worship styles, and theological bent reflect 50 years of TBN programming. Pure Flix is 'I want a family-safe service where everything is safe by default.' TBN+ is 'I grew up on TBN cable and want it on my phone for free.' For families with young kids, Pure Flix usually wins. For viewers already loyal to TBN or wanting free live linear channels, TBN+ is the obvious choice.
The bottom line
Pick Pure Flix if you have young kids and want a family-safe streaming service where every title is safe by default - the parental peace-of-mind is worth ~$8/month. Pick TBN+ if you grew up watching Trinity Broadcasting Network, want free live linear TV with no paywall, or if the subscription cost is a barrier. Many households actually run both.
The core difference: Pure Flix is a paid subscription for family-safe entertainment and peace-of-mind; TBN+ is free, ad-free, donor-funded streaming of Trinity Broadcasting Network content.
Pure Flix vs TBN+: at a glance
| Pure Flix | TBN+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Starting price | $7.99/mo (7-day free trial) | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | iOS · Android · Roku · Apple TV · Fire TV · Web · Smart TVs | iOS · Android · Roku · Apple TV · Fire TV · Web |
| Developer | Great American Media (originally Affirm Films / Sony Pictures) | Trinity Broadcasting Network |
| Launched | 2015 | 2020 |
| Best for | Families with kids who want a screen-time service that is safe by default | Households already loyal to TBN cable programming |
How they compare, point by point
Pricing Model
Pure Flix
~$7.99/month or ~$69.99/year - pure subscription, no ads, no free tier, no paywall within the paid experience
TBN+
Completely free - funded by donor support not subscriptions; optional free account for convenience features; never gates content
Live Linear Channels
Pure Flix
No - Pure Flix is on-demand only, no live TV component
TBN+
Six 24/7 live channels (TBN, TBN Inspire, Smile kids, Enlace Spanish, JUCE TV youth, Positiv) - the live feed is a major differentiator
Target Audience & Family-Safety
Pure Flix
All-ages family-safe by design - curated to a values bar, kids profile locks to kids-only section, parental peace-of-mind is the product
TBN+
Pentecostal/Charismatic skew - free and open to all, but editorial slant is clear; families like the Smile kids channel and free originals but TBN+ is not primarily 'family-safe curated'
Preaching & Teaching Catalog
Pure Flix
Minimal - not a preaching-focused app, occasional teaching content but not the center
TBN+
Deep Pentecostal/Charismatic preaching - T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, John Hagee, etc. organized by preacher; the largest charismatic catalog in streaming
Originals & Film Library
Pure Flix
Strong original slate - Hallmark-style romances, indie Christian films, documentaries, some theatrical releases; uneven but substantial
TBN+
Growing originals slate - The Encounter, Praise, Better Together, and others; plus theatrical Christian films TBN has licensed; decent but not curated like Pure Flix
Search & Discovery
Pure Flix
Better organized - home grid, category rows, watchlist, resume across devices - more polished than TBN+
TBN+
Functional but basic - you can find shows and preachers by name, but no transcript search, no fuzzy matching, unsophisticated recommendations
Which should you choose?
Pure Flix
Choose Pure Flix if you have young kids and want a screen-time service where every title is safe by default - the parental peace-of-mind and kids library justify the cost. Also pick it if you want a more neutral, family-friendly catalog without a specific theological slant.
TBN+
Choose TBN+ if the subscription cost is a barrier - it's genuinely free with a deep catalog. Also pick it if you grew up on TBN cable and want the familiar feed on your phone, or if you want six live 24/7 linear channels with no paywall.
Both have kids content. Pure Flix's Smile/kids section is more deliberately curated; TBN+'s Smile channel (Veggie Tales, Superbook) is solid but smaller. For family movie night with zero pre-screening, Pure Flix. For free kids content that works, TBN+. Neither replaces The Chosen app (the free home of the decade's best faith series) as your primary install.
Strengths at a glance
Pure Flix
- Largest family-safe Christian catalog under one subscription - thousands of titles, almost all suitable for any age
- Parental peace-of-mind by default - you do not have to pre-screen anything before a family movie night
- Strong kids and animation section - VeggieTales, Bible storybook series, and a deep bench of animated shorts
- Original series and exclusive films you cannot find on Netflix or Prime - the catalog is a real moat, not a marketing line
TBN+
- Genuinely free, no account wall - you can open the app and start watching the live TBN feed without signing up for anything
- Six live linear channels - TBN, TBN Inspire, Smile (kids), Enlace (Spanish), JUCE TV (youth), and Positiv, all streaming 24/7
- Deep Pentecostal/Charismatic preaching catalog - T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, Bishop Noel Jones, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin and dozens more, organized by preacher
- Surprisingly strong originals slate - The Encounter, Praise, Better Together, and a growing roster of TBN Originals that look and feel like real production, not access-cable filler
Watch-outs
Pure Flix
- Content quality is uneven - the indie-Christian-film tail includes some genuinely rough productions alongside the polished ones
- No live TV, no sports, no mainstream blockbusters - this is a complement to your main streamer, not a replacement
- Search and discovery feel a generation behind Netflix and Disney+ - you will scroll past the same titles repeatedly
TBN+
- Editorially Pentecostal/Charismatic - if youre coming from a Reformed, Lutheran, Catholic, or LDS background, much of the preaching catalog will not match how your tradition teaches scripture
- Prosperity-gospel theology surfaces in some of the historic programming - its less central than it used to be, but its still part of the catalog
- Search is functional but not great - no fuzzy matching, no transcript search, and the recommendations engine is unsophisticated compared to Netflix-tier apps
Frequently asked questions
Is TBN+ really free with no catch?
Yes - genuinely, completely free. Trinity Broadcasting Network funds itself through donor support (not subscriptions or ads), and the streaming app inherits that model. There is a donate button and the app is open about being viewer-funded, but giving is never required to access anything. No paywall, no ads in on-demand content, no credit card required.
Which app is better for families with young kids?
Pure Flix - the entire catalog is curated to a family-safe bar, a kids profile locks to the kids section, and parental peace-of-mind is the product. TBN+'s Smile channel is good and free, but Pure Flix is specifically engineered for families to trust by default.
Does Pure Flix have live TV like cable?
No - Pure Flix is on-demand only. TBN+ has six live 24/7 linear channels. If you want the experience of turning on a channel and letting it run, TBN+ is the only one of the two that delivers that.
Can I watch The Chosen on either service?
Both may have The Chosen licensing at any given time, but it is not exclusive to either. The Chosen is free on its dedicated app and on multiple other platforms. If The Chosen is your primary reason to subscribe, the free Chosen app is the better choice than either Pure Flix or TBN+.
Is Pure Flix free?
Pure Flix starts at $7.99/mo (7-day free trial); there's no free tier.
Is TBN+ free?
Yes - TBN+ has a free tier (Free).
Pure Flix has quietly become the default streaming app for households that want every show on the screen to be safe by default. A genuinely free Christian streaming app from the worlds largest Christian broadcaster - with a deep Pentecostal/Charismatic catalog, live linear TV, and an originals lineup that has gotten noticeably better since the post-Crouch leadership transitions.