The Criterion Channel vs HEINetwork
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Criterion Channel
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.
- Criterion Collection streaming library
- Thematic film programming
- Director and star retrospectives
- Guest-curated film series
- Supplemental film features
- Original Criterion Channel series
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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
HEINetwork
Access a unique comedic cinematic universe and a satirical take on American culture. Stream every season and special from a popular movie review show, exclusively on this independent network.
- Exclusive access to On Cinema content
- Stream all seasons
- Watch Oscar Specials
- Comedic cinematic universe
- Satire of American culture
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The Official HEI Network App - Your portal to On Cinema at the Cinema, a comedic cinematic universe, a grand satire of America itself. Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington’s On Cinema has built a dedicated cult following as a sprawling comedic soap opera masquerading as a disastrous movie review show. Join the On Cinema Family and watch every Season, every Oscar Special, and much more content, exclusively on the independent HEI Network.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HEINetwork at none against The Criterion Channel's 2. HEINetwork also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.4). The Criterion Channel's advantage is ratings volume (14K vs 81) and chart position (#76 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. HEINetwork asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for The Criterion Channel against 4.9 for HEINetwork. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Criterion Channel has 14K ratings behind it against 81, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 89% and 89% positive.
The Criterion Channel ships an update monthly, HEINetwork every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Criterion Channel | HEINetwork |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (14K ratings) | 4.9 (81 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 89.0% of reviews | 89.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 14K — better | 81 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #76 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPod, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 58 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | The Criterion Collection, Inc. | On Cinema, Inc. |
Customer experience
The Criterion Channel
HEINetwork
User reviews
The Criterion Channel
From 14K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎥 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
Room to improve
- 🔍 Difficult to browse full catalog
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 🐛 Playback issues and interruptions
- 🔌 Problems with offline viewing and downloads
- 🤖 Lack of personalized recommendations
HEINetwork
From 81 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🍿 Certified Popcorn Classic
- 🍿 Bags to stars conversion
- 🍿 Film buffs rejoice!
- 🍿 John Greatman of apps!
- 🍿 5 bags of popcorn
Room to improve
- 😞 Terrible app created by an incompetent businessman/criminal
Bugs and 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
HEINetwork
Reported bugs
1 issue- Confusion with Heineken EN
Requested features
1 request- Ads and HEI points bonuses and betting
In-app purchases
The Criterion Channel
- Criterion Channel Subscription7 Days trial$10.991 Month
- Criterion Channel Subscription7 Days trial$99.991 Year
HEINetwork
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is The Criterion Channel free?
Is HEINetwork free?
Which has better reviews, The Criterion Channel or HEINetwork?
Do The Criterion Channel or HEINetwork have ads?
Which is updated more often, The Criterion Channel or HEINetwork?
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