ARpoise vs The Criterion Channel
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ARpoise
Experience augmented reality artworks that blend digital art with your surroundings. Discover interactive installations like "Lotus Meditation" and "Evolution of Fish" through your smartphone.
- View AR artworks
- Geo-locative art experiences
- Interactive meditation art
- Explore digital installations
- Smartphone-based AR
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ARpoise is an augmented reality app that enables you to view the AR artworks like "Evolution of Fish", "Lotus Meditation" or "Suspended Spring." "Lotus Meditation" is a geo-locative artwork that can be viewed anywhere in the world to mediate on the Lotus Sutra. It was developed for the Kennin-ji Zen Temple in Kyoto, where it premiered on March 14 2019 as part of the "Art Innovation" Exhibition and Symposium. To use "Lotus Meditation," start the app, then cup your smartphone between your two hands. Search for the lotus flowers that surround you. Gently focus on one of the flowers in the middle of your screen until it enlarges to envelope you. In its heart you will find a special surprise.
The Criterion Channel
Access thousands of classic, foreign, art-house, and independent films, along with exclusive bonus features. Stream ad-free on multiple devices and download content for offline viewing. Discover curated collections and guest picks from renowned filmmakers.
- Thousands of classic and international films
- Exclusive bonus features
- Ad-free streaming
- Offline viewing
- Curated collections
- Guest picks from filmmakers
- High-quality video and surround sound
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A movie lover’s dream, Criterion features exclusive new releases, classic films, and global discoveries, along with bonus features, all ad-free. Start watching today. WHAT YOU GET: - Access to thousands of films: major Hollywood hits alongside classic, foreign, art-house, and independent films from around the world - Special features no other streamer can match: audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, new and archival interviews, introductions, and scholarly analysis - Original series: Adventures in Moviegoing, The Craft of Acting, and more - Guest picks from filmmakers like Spike Lee, Guillermo del Toro, Sofia Coppola, and more FEATURES: - Stream on TV, web browser, mobile, and gaming consoles, at home or on the go - Unlimited ad-free streaming on every device - Download movies and extras you love for offline viewing - Save everything you want to watch in one place with “My List” - Search and sort “All Films” by decade, genre, director, and country - Drop into a steady stream of must-see movies with “Criterion 24/7” - Stream high-quality video and 5.1 surround sound To access all features and content you can subscribe to the Criterion Channel 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://www.criterion.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.criterion.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ARpoise at none against The Criterion Channel's 2. ARpoise also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.4). The Criterion Channel's advantage is ratings volume (14K vs 2) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On price, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. The Criterion Channel sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. ARpoise asks for nothing beyond the download.
The Criterion Channel holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Criterion Channel has 14K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
ARpoise ships an update every 2 months, The Criterion Channel monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ARpoise | The Criterion Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (2 ratings) | 4.8 (14K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 88.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 14K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | #83 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 63 MB | 58 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Tamiko Thiel | The Criterion Collection, Inc. |
Customer experience
ARpoise
The Criterion Channel
Bugs and requests
ARpoise
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
The Criterion Channel
Reported bugs
3 issues- Frequent playback interruptions and freezing
- Unreliable offline viewing and download issues
- Inconsistent app performance across devices
Requested features
5 requests- 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
In-app purchases
ARpoise
No in-app purchases
The Criterion Channel
- Criterion Channel Subscription7 Days trial$10.991 Month
- Criterion Channel Subscription7 Days trial$99.991 Year









