Comparison

ARpoise vs The Criterion Channel

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • View AR artworks
  • Geo-locative art experiences
  • Interactive meditation art
  • Explore digital installations
  • Smartphone-based AR
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

ARpoise2 screens
The Criterion Channel4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
ARpoise versus The Criterion Channel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterARpoiseThe Criterion Channel
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings)4.8 (14K ratings) — better
Positive reviews—88.8% of reviews
Number of ratings214K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
Best chart rank—#83 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple TV
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.4
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB58 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperTamiko ThielThe Criterion Collection, Inc.

Customer experience

ARpoise

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

The Criterion Channel

All ratings13,597 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral1.4%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews1,329 reviews
Positive88.8%
Neutral2.8%
Negative8.4%

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

None

ARpoise

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

The Criterion Channel

Subscriptions2
  • Criterion Channel Subscription7 Days trial$10.991 Month
  • Criterion Channel Subscription7 Days trial$99.991 Year

Questions

Is ARpoise free?
ARpoise 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, ARpoise or The Criterion Channel?
The Criterion Channel is rated higher. ARpoise averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while The Criterion Channel averages 4.8 from 14K ratings.
Do ARpoise or The Criterion Channel have ads?
Neither ARpoise nor The Criterion Channel shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ARpoise or The Criterion Channel?
ARpoise ships an update every 2 months, and The Criterion Channel monthly. Most recently, ARpoise was updated on November 2, 2026 and The Criterion Channel on November 7, 2026.

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