Comparison

Dropout vs Pocket Beacon

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Dropout

Access exclusive, uncensored, and ad-free original comedy series and content. Enjoy weekly releases and a vast library of shows from popular talent. Support independent comedy with a subscription.

Highlights
  • Original comedy series
  • Exclusive content
  • Ad-free viewing
  • Uncensored content
  • Weekly new episodes
  • Extensive video library
Features
Read full description

WHAT’S ON IT? -New original series like Dimension 20, Game Changer, Um Actually, Breaking News, What the F 101, Ultramechatron Team Go, Bad Internet, and more. -Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else - all uncensored and ad-free - with talent like Brennan Lee Mulligan, Sam Reich, Zac Oyama, Emily Axford, Ally Beardsley, Lou Wilson, Aabria Iyengar, Erika Ishii, and more. -Weekly releases of new episodes, including Dimension 20, Adventuring Party, Game Changer, and more. -The definitive way to browse our extensive library of the CH video content you know and love. -The knowledge that you are supporting an independent comedy channel for the cost of one sorta okay sandwich per month. But hey, big blocks of text are pretty boring. Instead, how about just trying DROPOUT for a week totally free? Download the app and sign up for a trial of 3 free-as-heck days to watch everything your eyes can handle. Cancel anytime in the 3 day trial and never be charged! Don’t like it? I mean, we’re deeply hurt, but we understand. Cancel your membership, throw your phone in a lake, however you cope with disappointment. DO like it? Just kick back and keep watching, and your first month will automatically begin at the end of the free trial. Annual plans are also available at a discount, if you’re a money whiz. So go ahead and give it a try! This text isn’t gonna get any more interesting. I mean, I think we’ve pretty much covered all the good stuff. Still here? Um, ok. How’s everything? Good? Cool, cool. What are you looking for? The app description is over. For real. We’re not gonna say any more stuff. Check out the free trial. It’s way better than hanging out in the App Store this long. Wow, you’re dedicated. Do you just love app descriptions? Weird. OK, we’re gonna go. Bye. To access all features and content you can subscribe to DROPOUT By CollegeHumor on a monthly or yearly basis with an auto-renewing subscription right inside the app.* Pricing can vary by region and will be confirmed before purchase in the app. In app subscriptions will automatically renew at the end of their cycle. * All payments will be paid through your Apple Account and may be managed under Account Settings after the initial payment. Subscription payments will automatically renew unless deactivated at least 24-hours before the end of the current cycle. Your account will be charged for renewal at least 24-hours prior to the end of the current cycle. Any unused portion of your free trial will be forfeited upon payment. Cancellations are incurred by disabling auto-renewal. Terms of Service: https://watch.dropout.tv/tos Privacy Policy: https://watch.dropout.tv/privacy

About

Pocket Beacon

Unlock exclusive content and benefits for fans of a popular web series. Enjoy ad-free viewing, early access to events, merchandise discounts, and bonus episodes. Support independent creator-owned media.

Highlights
  • Ad-free access to video and podcast library
  • Exclusive pre-sales for live events
  • Invitation to a private Discord server
  • Persistent merchandise discount
  • Bonus content (Cooldown, Fireside Chats)
  • Same-day podcast releases
Features
Read full description

Beacon is a special membership program that offers unparalleled and ad-free access to Critical Role and its vast video and podcast library, exclusive pre-sales for live events, invitation to a private Discord server, and a persistent discount on merchandise throughout all international online shops! By becoming a Beacon member, you’ll unlock special bonus content like Critical Role Cooldown and Fireside Chats, same-day Critical Role podcast releases alongside the VODs, and more, all while directly supporting creator-owned independent media.

Screenshots

Dropout4 screens
Pocket Beacon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Dropout at 99% against Pocket Beacon's 27%. Dropout also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (77K vs 356). Pocket Beacon's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Dropout sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Pocket Beacon asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dropout holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dropout has 77K ratings behind it against 356, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 99% of Dropout's written reviews are positive against 27% of Pocket Beacon's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dropout ships an update every 2 months, Pocket Beacon every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Dropout versus Pocket Beacon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDropoutPocket Beacon
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (77K ratings) — better3.3 (356 ratings)
Positive reviews99.3% of reviews — better27.5% of reviews
Number of ratings77K — better356
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#53 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TViPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB51 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperConnected Ventures, LLC.Critical Role Productions, LLC

Customer experience

Dropout

All ratings77,492 ratings
Positive99.6%
Neutral0.2%
Negative0.3%
Written reviews9,872 reviews
Positive99.3%
Neutral0.3%
Negative0.3%

Pocket Beacon

All ratings356 ratings
Positive47.5%
Neutral19.4%
Negative33.1%
Written reviews273 reviews
Positive27.5%
Neutral28.9%
Negative43.6%

User reviews

Dropout

From 77K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent content
  • 👍 Intuitive app interface
  • 🔒 No ads
  • 💰 Great value for money
  • 👥 Supportive community

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional app glitches
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate/search for content
  • 💾 Inconsistent resume/continue watching functionality
  • 🔇 No auto-play for next episode

Pocket Beacon

From 356 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth streaming
  • 🎥 Great content organization
  • 💰 Good value for subscription
  • 👍 Easy to navigate

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔍 Inconsistent progress tracking
  • 🔇 No background audio playback
  • 🔒 Repeated login issues

Bugs and requests

Dropout

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Inconsistent playback when switching devices
  • Closed captions not always accurate

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add user profiles/accounts for shared subscriptions
  • Improve search and content discovery
  • Enhance resume/continue watching features
  • Implement auto-play for next episode

Pocket Beacon

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Videos starting from the beginning
  • Freezing when switching to audio mode
  • Inconsistent behavior when locking screen

Requested features

4 requests
  • Picture-in-picture mode
  • Offline video downloads
  • Customizable playback controls
  • Apple TV app support

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Dropout

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly3 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Annual3 Days trial$69.991 Year
None

Pocket Beacon

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dropout free?
Dropout is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pocket Beacon free?
Pocket Beacon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dropout or Pocket Beacon?
Dropout is rated higher. Dropout averages 5.0 out of 5 from 77K ratings, while Pocket Beacon averages 3.3 from 356 ratings.
Do Dropout or Pocket Beacon have ads?
Neither Dropout nor Pocket Beacon shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dropout or Pocket Beacon?
Dropout ships an update every 2 months, and Pocket Beacon every 3 weeks. Most recently, Dropout was updated on September 24, 2026 and Pocket Beacon on September 20, 2026.

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