- Starting price
- Free; optional donations
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web · iPhone · iPad · Apple Silicon Mac · Apple Vision · Apple TV · Android · Roku · Fire TV · Android TV · select smart TVs
- Developer
- Word of God Fellowship, Inc.
- Launched
- 2013 app
- Updated
- Aug 2, 2026
The verdict
Daystar is a capable, frequently updated way to watch the network without cable, especially after its 2026 redesign added better navigation, audio mode, AirPlay, picture-in-picture, deep links, and resume playback. It is not a neutral Christian library: programming reflects Daystar’s charismatic and Pentecostal broadcast identity, mixes teaching with current-affairs and fundraising content, and carries broader tracking disclosures than a simple free viewer might expect.
Try Daystar ↗Opens daystar.com
Daystar is the official streaming app of Daystar Television Network, operated by Word of God Fellowship, Inc. It opens directly into the network’s 24/7 live feed and also provides on-demand programs, My List, trending content, audio-only radio mode, and a prominent donation path. The wider platform includes Daystar Canada, Daystar Español, and a live Israel camera alongside the main U.S. channel, with availability varying by page and device.
The network’s identity is charismatic and Pentecostal. Its lineup has historically centered ministry talk shows, worship, preaching, prophecy-oriented programming, Israel coverage, and teachers from charismatic, Word of Faith, and broader evangelical circles. That is useful context, not a theological score. Viewers from Catholic, Orthodox, Reformed, Lutheran, Anglican, Latter-day Saint, or other traditions should not assume that “Christian television” means their own church’s doctrine or editorial standards.
The current app is materially more modern than older reviews suggest. A 2026 interface redesign added a floating Home, My List, Radio, and Donate menu; 30-second previews; automatic live playback at launch; trending rows; notifications that deep-link into programs; background audio; AirPlay; picture-in-picture; social sharing; and recently watched items. Several rapid releases through July fixed tablet rotation, full-screen landscape, artwork, playback, and stability.
This is a researched review based on current Daystar pages, policies, live store metadata, and release history as of August 2, 2026. We did not represent the app as personally tested. Program availability and schedules change continuously, and the live U.S. feed follows Central Time. The evaluation therefore focuses on the service model, app functions, disclosures, and editorial fit rather than promising that one named show will remain in the schedule.
✓ The good
- Free live television - no cable authentication or paid streaming subscription is required for the main Daystar feed
- Useful on-demand layer - viewers can return to Daystar originals instead of planning around a linear broadcast schedule
- Audio-only radio mode - one tap replaces the video stream with live audio for driving, chores, or lower-bandwidth listening
- Broad living-room support - Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio, phones, tablets, and the web are advertised
- Rapid 2026 development - AirPlay, picture-in-picture, background audio, deep links, resuming, previews, and iPad fixes arrived in successive releases
- Regional and language choices - Daystar Canada, Israel, and Español expand beyond the main U.S. stream
- No in-app subscription - donations support the network, but ordinary streaming is not sold as a premium tier
✗ Watch out
- One clear editorial tradition - charismatic and Pentecostal teaching dominates rather than a representative survey of Christian traditions
- Live video auto-plays at launch - convenient for television habits but potentially noisy and data-intensive on mobile connections
- Fundraising is part of the experience - Donate receives a permanent navigation position and viewer support is central to the broadcast model
- Tracking disclosure - Apple says identifiers may be used to track users across apps and websites owned by other companies
- Broad analytics collection - location, contact information, user content, searches, identifiers, usage, and diagnostics may be collected without identity linkage
- Health and current-affairs programs require discernment - religious broadcasting should not replace primary reporting or licensed medical advice
Best for
- Existing Daystar viewers replacing cable access
- Charismatic and Pentecostal Christian households
- Viewers wanting a free always-on Christian channel
- Listeners who value background audio and TV-device support
Avoid if
- You want teaching curated to a different denomination
- You prefer an ad-, appeal-, and fundraising-light experience
- You want a deep movie-first subscription library
- You need minimal tracking or fully documented accessibility
What Daystar is
Daystar combines a television-network feed with a catch-up library. Launch behavior emphasizes live viewing: the main Daystar TV stream starts automatically, the schedule is presented in U.S. Central Time, and audio mode lets the same channel continue without video. On-demand shelves, originals, trending rows, My List, previews, and recently watched features provide the streaming-service layer around that broadcast.
The app is not primarily a Bible reader, guided devotional, or movie service. It is the digital distribution system for one broadcaster. Programs can include sermons, interview panels, ministry news, worship, testimony, Israel coverage, health discussions, political commentary, and donation appeals. Each contributor remains responsible for their teaching; presence on the channel should not be mistaken for consensus across Christianity.
Why Daystar viewers use the app instead of clips on YouTube
YouTube may contain many of the same ministries, but it does not reproduce a stable Daystar channel. The app opens the continuous feed, follows the network schedule, and groups official on-demand episodes without reaction videos, unofficial uploads, or recommendation detours. For someone who used Daystar like traditional television, that continuity is the product.
The 2026 redesign also makes the official app better for passive listening. Radio mode stops the video and preserves live audio; background playback allows another app or a locked screen; AirPlay, picture-in-picture, and television apps move the same program across rooms. Those are practical advantages over hunting for one-off clips, even though YouTube remains stronger for searching across unrelated teachers.
Live channels, on-demand originals, and regional streams
The main Daystar channel runs around the clock. The official web experience also promotes Daystar Canada, Daystar Español, and a Daystar Israel live camera aimed at the Temple Mount area. On-demand pages carry original programs after broadcast, while a schedule helps viewers follow the linear U.S. Central Time feed.
Regional labels matter because Daystar is a global network with different schedules and rights. The Israel camera is not the same as a produced news channel, and Español is not simply an interface translation for every English episode. Users should choose the actual channel that fits their language and region instead of assuming the main app automatically localizes everything.
The 2026 mobile redesign prioritizes immediate watching
A floating menu now keeps Home, My List, Radio, and Donate within reach. Long-pressing a thumbnail or using its menu opens a 30-second trailer. The live channel auto-plays on entry, and a trending carousel surfaces popular material. Subsequent releases added deep-linked notifications, AirPlay, background playback, picture-in-picture, sharing, social links, and a Recently Watched row.
This design is excellent for a loyal viewer and more aggressive for everyone else. Auto-play consumes attention and potentially mobile data before a deliberate selection. The Donate position reflects the network’s economics but makes fundraising structurally equal to the content tabs. Users who want a quiet library should disable notifications and watch network settings carefully.
Editorial fit matters more than the size of the catalog
Daystar describes its mission in explicitly evangelical terms and programs a recognizable charismatic Christian voice. Viewers will encounter prayer for healing, prophecy-oriented conversations, contemporary worship, ministry interviews, Israel-focused content, and preaching from a range of prominent charismatic figures. The channel also addresses politics, culture, and health through that lens.
No app setting can make those judgments neutral. Users should compare teaching with Scripture, their church community, and accountable sources. Medical claims belong alongside licensed clinicians and authoritative health guidance; current-affairs claims belong alongside primary documents and reporting from multiple outlets. Daystar can be a ministry broadcaster without serving as a sole authority outside ministry.
Pricing
Daystar live and on demand
Free
The main 24/7 stream, on-demand programs, audio mode, and supported-device apps are available without a paid subscription or cable-provider login.
Free account features
$0
My List, recently watched, personalization, notifications, or gated free media may require an email or account depending on the feature. The live stream remains the low-friction core.
Viewer donation
Optional
Daystar is donation-supported. The app’s persistent Donate button opens a browser, and the official site accepts one-time or recurring support. Giving is not an app unlock.
Daystar does not charge an app subscription. Live and on-demand viewing is free, and the Apple listing shows no consumer in-app purchase menu. That makes it easy to test on a phone or television before creating an account.
The economic exchange is viewer support rather than a paywall. Donate is one of four persistent navigation destinations, and the official site repeatedly invites partnership. A gift does not buy exclusive episodes or a higher video tier; it supports broadcasting and ministry operations.
Some free media campaigns may ask for contact information, and My List or syncing features naturally require an identity. Those are different from paying for playback. A viewer who only wants the live channel can use the service more lightly than someone who creates a profile, requests resources, submits prayer content, or donates.
As with any donation-supported broadcaster, emotional appeals should not replace ordinary household judgment. Decide a giving budget separately from a live program, verify the legal entity and recurring status on the confirmation page, and retain the receipt.
Where Daystar falls behind
Privacy expectations are not obvious from “free TV.” Apple says identifiers may track users across other companies’ apps and websites. It also lists coarse location, contact information, support or other user content, search history, identifiers, interaction and advertising data, and diagnostics as collected without identity linkage. The Daystar policy covers an even wider ecosystem of websites, donations, prayer requests, call centers, and apps, so users should distinguish anonymous viewing from submitting personal material.
Accessibility is not clearly declared in the Apple listing. Current release notes mention visual and rotation fixes, but there is no complete public promise covering captions, VoiceOver, dynamic text, audio descriptions, or every television device. Viewers who require captions should confirm them on the specific program.
Auto-play is a poor default for some mobile contexts. Opening the app can immediately produce sound and consume data. A user-controlled “do not auto-play on cellular” preference would make the new design safer and calmer.
The catalog is editorially narrower than a general Christian marketplace. A charismatic viewer may value that coherence; someone wanting Reformed lectures, Catholic formation, Orthodox liturgy, or historical documentaries will find better-aligned services elsewhere.
A 4+ age label describes Apple’s content classification, not a parental recommendation for every live program. User-generated content is disclosed, and broadcasts can discuss politics, illness, conflict, or mature life circumstances. Parents should supervise live television rather than treating the store badge as a curriculum review.
Daystar vs. TBN+ vs. CBN Family vs. Redeem TV
Daystar and TBN+ are the closest pair: both are free television-network apps with charismatic and Pentecostal roots, live channels, ministry programs, and on-demand episodes. TBN+ has a broader multi-channel and entertainment catalog; Daystar offers its own recognizable lineup and an especially direct live-first experience. CBN Family combines CBN News, family programming, Superbook, music, and evangelical ministry content. Redeem TV is less like television and more like a free on-demand film and documentary archive.
Choose Daystar if the network and its hosts are already the reason you are searching. Choose TBN+ for the widest free charismatic broadcast bundle, CBN Family for CBN’s family and news ecosystem, or Redeem TV for deliberate movie selection without a schedule. All four are free, so doctrinal and programming fit matters more than price.
A useful household setup may combine one live service and one library: Daystar for continuous programming and Redeem TV for planned movie nights. Adding every broadcaster simply multiplies notifications, data collection, and duplicate content.
The bottom line
Daystar’s app now does its main job well: it brings a free 24/7 Christian television network to nearly every screen, with better on-demand navigation and genuinely useful audio and multitasking controls. Install it if you already value Daystar’s charismatic and Pentecostal programming. Approach health, political, and prophetic claims with normal source discipline; supervise children despite the 4+ store label; and understand that free access comes with fundraising and tracking disclosures. For a broader live bundle compare TBN+; for films use Redeem TV; for CBN programming choose CBN Family.
Alternatives to Daystar
TBN+The closest free live-TV alternative, with multiple channels, charismatic teaching, films, originals, music, and a children’s network.
CBN FamilyA free mix of CBN live channels, news, ministry programs, Superbook, music, documentaries, and family video.
Redeem TVA donor-supported on-demand library of 2,000+ Christian films, documentaries, animated titles, and series rather than a live broadcast network.
Pure FlixA paid movie-first Christian and family service with fewer ministry broadcasts and a more conventional subscription catalog.
Grace to YouA free, searchable teaching library with a Reformed Baptist perspective for users who want sermons rather than continuous television.Frequently asked questions
Is the Daystar app free?
Yes. The live stream, on-demand programs, and supported-device apps do not require a paid subscription or cable login. Daystar invites optional donations, and some account or resource features may request contact information.
What kind of Christianity does Daystar represent?
Daystar is a Christian television network with a predominantly charismatic and Pentecostal identity, including worship, healing prayer, prophecy-oriented discussion, ministry interviews, and evangelical current-affairs programming. It is not representative of every Christian tradition.
What devices can show Daystar?
Daystar advertises iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Android and Google TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio, and browser viewing. Availability and features can differ by model and region.
Can I listen without watching video?
Yes. The floating Radio control switches to the live audio stream and stops the video. Current versions also support background audio, allowing listening with the screen locked or another app open.
Why does live video start when the app opens?
Automatic Daystar TV playback is an intentional feature of the 2026 redesign, meant to create immediate live engagement. Users on limited mobile data should check network settings and close playback when they do not intend to watch.
Does Daystar track users?
Apple says identifiers may be used to track users across apps and websites owned by other companies. It also lists multiple unlinked analytics categories. Daystar’s policy covers websites, apps, donations, prayer requests, and support interactions, so data use depends on how deeply a viewer engages.
Is every Daystar program suitable for a four-year-old?
No. Apple’s 4+ rating is a store classification, not a promise that every live discussion is preschool content. The listing also notes user-generated content, and programs may cover politics, health, conflict, or other adult topics. Parents should supervise.
Sources & further reading
More Christian Streaming Apps
The Chip Ingram AppThe official Living on the Edge app puts Chip Ingram’s practical evangelical teaching, daily broadcasts, notes, devotionals, and series in one free media hub—excellent for committed listeners, but narrower and more data-complex than its simple Apple label suggests.
Canon+Canon Press combines 7,000-plus hours of Reformed audiobooks, shows, courses, and films in one ad-free subscription—but both the strong editorial viewpoint and app experience need to fit your household.
ChurchomeJudah and Chelsea Smith's single-church app is free, donor-funded and very good at daily prayer - and the live App Store listing still sells a human Pastor Chat that Churchome closed on 3 April 2026.
Answers.tvAnswers in Genesis charges $4.99 a month for more than 7,000 videos built on one explicit premise: creation happened in six 24-hour days and the earth is thousands of years old, not billions. Whether that makes this the best-value subscription in Christian streaming or an unusable one turns on a single question - and it is not the price.
Grace MediaGrace Community Church gives away its entire video catalogue - documentaries, hymn teaching, a children's series, the Sunday livestream - for nothing, with no ads and no in-app purchases. It is also not the app that holds John MacArthur's sermon archive, and nothing in the store listing tells you that - 
Angel StudiosA publicly traded studio that lets its paying members vote on what gets greenlit, then sells access through three tiers starting at $12 a month - and the series that built the company now streams somewhere else.