# The Criterion Channel vs CrowdWork

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CrowdWork at none against The Criterion Channel's 2. CrowdWork also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 89%). The Criterion Channel's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (14K vs 4). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

CrowdWork holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Criterion Channel has 14K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of The Criterion Channel's written reviews are positive against 100% of CrowdWork's.

The Criterion Channel ships an update every 5 weeks, CrowdWork every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Criterion Channel | CrowdWork |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criterion-channel/id1454275199/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crowdwork/id6444920144/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 89.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#75** | — |
| Size | 58 MB | 150 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [The Criterion Collection, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454275198) | [Matthew Hoelter](https://appshunter.io/developer/598396486) |

## What reviewers say

### The Criterion Channel

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

**Currently charting:** #75 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


### CrowdWork

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crowdwork/id6444920144)

This point-of-sale companion app allows users to easily view and sell tickets for their events, shows, and classes in person. It requires an account on the associated website to function.

**Highlights:** View event tickets, Sell tickets in person, Manage shows and classes, Companion POS functionality, Requires website account

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Criterion Channel free?

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

### Is CrowdWork free?

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

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

CrowdWork is rated higher. The Criterion Channel averages 4.8 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while CrowdWork averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

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

CrowdWork shows ads; The Criterion Channel does not.

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

The Criterion Channel ships an update every 5 weeks, and CrowdWork every 3 months. Most recently, The Criterion Channel was updated on October 19, 2026 and CrowdWork on October 3, 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.*