# START vs KION

The clearest difference is rating: KION at 4.7 against START's 3.8. START's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. START sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month and KION sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

KION holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 190 and 441 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of START's written reviews are positive against 41% of KION's.

START ships an update every 2 weeks, KION fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | START | KION |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (190 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start/id1273218458/reviews) | **[4.7 (441 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kion/id1451612172/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 190 | **441** |
| Positive reviews | 34.7% of reviews | **41.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 550 MB | 393 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Start.Ru LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1273218457) | [Mobile TeleSystems Public Joint Stock Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/406999351) |

## What reviewers say

### START

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start/id1273218458)

This app offers a vast library of films, series, and cartoons from global studios, alongside exclusive original productions. Enjoy high-definition streaming, offline viewing, and bonus content with a single subscription, accessible across all your devices worldwide without any advertisements.

**Highlights:** Exclusive original series and films, Large library of movies, series, and cartoons, Single subscription for full catalog access, Offline viewing of downloaded content, Full HD 1080p quality, Ad-free viewing, Cross-device compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All inclusive | $7.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good customer support
- 🚀 High-quality content
- 💡 Variety of movies and shows

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Unauthorized charges and subscription issues
- 🤖 Poor app performance and user experience

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes and becomes unresponsive
- Playback issues and video quality problems
- Incorrect billing and subscription handling

**Requested features**

- Add English subtitles
- Improve content availability outside of Russia
- Allow easier subscription management and cancellation


### KION

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kion/id1451612172)

Access a vast library of original films, series, cartoons, and blockbusters. Enjoy a user-friendly interface, smart recommendations, and a dedicated kids' profile. Stream in Full HD 4K quality on up to 5 devices with a single subscription.

**Highlights:** Original films and series, Extensive movie library, Smart recommendation system, Kids' profile with safe content, Full HD 4K streaming, Simultaneous viewing on 5 devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Спорт | $0.99 | per month |
| KION Light | $1.49 | per month |
| KION | $2.49 | per month |
| KION | $2.99 | per month |
| IVI Лайт | $2.99 | per month |
| KION + МТС Premium с Ozon | $3.99 | per month |
| KION | $4.49 | per month |
| KION Медиаподписка | $4.99 | per month |
| START | $5.99 | per month |
| KION Light | $6.49 | per month |
| Amediateka | $6.99 | per month |
| KION+START | $6.99 | per month |
| KION ТОП | $8.49 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is START free?

START is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is KION free?

KION is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, START or KION?

KION is rated higher. START averages 3.8 out of 5 from 190 ratings, while KION averages 4.7 from 441 ratings.

### Do START or KION have ads?

Neither START nor KION shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, START or KION?

START ships an update every 2 weeks, and KION fortnightly. Most recently, START was updated on September 24, 2026 and KION on September 23, 2026.

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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.*