# Kanopy vs The Criterion Channel

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Kanopy at none against The Criterion Channel's 2. Kanopy also leads on ratings volume (150K vs 13K) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). The Criterion Channel's advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 72%). On price, rating, ads and chart position there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Criterion Channel sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. Kanopy asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Kanopy against 4.8 for The Criterion Channel. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kanopy has 150K ratings behind it against 13K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Kanopy's written reviews are positive against 91% of The Criterion Channel's.

Kanopy ships an update every 2 weeks, The Criterion Channel every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kanopy | The Criterion Channel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (150K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanopy/id1205614510/reviews) | [4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criterion-channel/id1454275199/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **150K** | 13K |
| Positive reviews | 72.1% of reviews | **91.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #138 | **#78** |
| Size | 103 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Kanopy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1205614509) | [The Criterion Collection, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454275198) |

## What reviewers say

### Kanopy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanopy/id1205614510)

**Currently charting:** #138 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Access a vast library of films and documentaries for free with your library card. Enjoy ad-free streaming of award-winning movies, The Criterion Collection, and curated content for children, with new titles added regularly.

**Highlights:** Free film streaming, Ad-free viewing, Library card required, Festival award-winning films, Documentaries, The Criterion Collection, Kanopy Kids with parental controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎥 Eclectic and engaging selection of films and series
- 🎬 Great movies and documentaries
- 🏆 Excellent content and thoughtful entertainment
- 🌍 Wide selection of various international material
- 🧠 Fantastic educational content like The Great Courses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes, freezes, and has stability issues
- 🔍 Difficult to search and navigate, poor user experience
- 🕰️ Losing credits just for resuming a movie
- 🔇 No way to turn off closed captions
- 📺 Chromecast and TV integration problems

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes frequently
- Login issues, unable to sign in or access account
- Chromecast and TV streaming problems
- Video playback issues, including blurry or out of sync
- Inconsistent behavior when resuming or rewatching movies

**Requested features**

- Add ability to pause, rewind, and resume movies without using credits
- Improve search and browsing functionality
- Provide more content filtering and parental control options
- Add support for offline viewing and downloads
- Enhance Chromecast and TV integration


### The Criterion Channel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criterion-channel/id1454275199)

**Currently charting:** #78 Top Grossing · Entertainment (US App Store)

Stream a curated collection of classic and contemporary films from around the world. Discover Hollywood, international, art-house, and independent movies with special features and exclusive series. Enjoy daily refreshed selections and in-depth film analysis.

**Highlights:** Criterion Collection streaming library, Thematic film programming, Director and star retrospectives, Guest-curated film series, Supplemental film features, Original Criterion Channel series

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Criterion Channel Subscription | $10.99 | per month |
| Criterion Channel Subscription | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎥 Excellent collection of films
- 🎨 Great curation and themed collections
- 🔍 Ability to discover new and classic films
- 🎬 High-quality film viewing experience
- 🤓 Educational and informative supplementary content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficult to browse full catalog
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 🐛 Playback issues and interruptions
- 🔌 Problems with offline viewing and downloads
- 🤖 Lack of personalized recommendations

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent playback interruptions and freezing
- Unreliable offline viewing and download issues
- Inconsistent app performance across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to view full catalog of available titles
- More advanced search and filtering tools
- Improved playback stability and offline functionality
- Personalized recommendations based on viewing history
- Ratings and user reviews system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kanopy free?

Kanopy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Criterion Channel free?

The Criterion Channel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Kanopy or The Criterion Channel?

Kanopy and The Criterion Channel are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 150K and 13K ratings respectively.

### Do Kanopy or The Criterion Channel have ads?

Neither Kanopy nor The Criterion Channel shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kanopy or The Criterion Channel?

Kanopy ships an update every 2 weeks, and The Criterion Channel every 6 weeks. Most recently, Kanopy was updated on September 24, 2026 and The Criterion Channel on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Kanopy or The Criterion Channel?

Kanopy currently peaks at #138 in the App Store charts, and The Criterion Channel at #78. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*