# The Criterion Channel vs Last Chinatown

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Last Chinatown at none against The Criterion Channel's 2. Last Chinatown also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and update cadence (every 11 days vs monthly). The Criterion Channel's advantage is ratings volume (14K vs 2) and chart position (#85 vs unranked). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Last Chinatown 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 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

The Criterion Channel ships an update monthly, Last Chinatown every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Criterion Channel | Last Chinatown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criterion-channel/id1454275199/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/last-chinatown/id6499598564/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 89.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#85** | — |
| Size | 58 MB | 1.7 GB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Criterion Collection, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454275198) | [Susana Ruiz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1743996000) |

## What reviewers say

### The Criterion Channel

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

**Currently charting:** #85 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


### Last Chinatown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/last-chinatown/id6499598564)

Experience a site-specific augmented reality memorial that explores the history and erasure of Santa Cruz's last Chinatown. This interactive journey uses historical photos, interviews, and virtual recreations to bring the past to life at significant locations.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality experience, Historical photos and interviews, Virtual recreations, Performative interpretation, Site-specific locations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 Last Chinatown free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Criterion Channel or Last Chinatown?

Last Chinatown is rated higher. The Criterion Channel averages 4.8 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Last Chinatown averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do The Criterion Channel or Last Chinatown have ads?

Neither The Criterion Channel nor Last Chinatown shows ads.

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

The Criterion Channel ships an update monthly, and Last Chinatown every 11 days. Most recently, The Criterion Channel was updated on October 30, 2026 and Last Chinatown on October 24, 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.*