# The Criterion Channel vs HEINetwork

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HEINetwork at none against The Criterion Channel's 2. HEINetwork also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). The Criterion Channel's advantage is ratings volume (13K vs 50) and chart position (#70 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

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 4.8 for HEINetwork. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Criterion Channel has 13K ratings behind it against 50, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of The Criterion Channel's written reviews are positive against 89% of HEINetwork's.

The Criterion Channel ships an update every 6 weeks, HEINetwork every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Criterion Channel | HEINetwork |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criterion-channel/id1454275199/reviews) | [4.8 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heinetwork/id6754226587/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 50 |
| Positive reviews | **91.1% of reviews** | 89.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#70** | — |
| Size | 71 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [The Criterion Collection, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454275198) | [On Cinema, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840963763) |

## What reviewers say

### The Criterion Channel

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

**Currently charting:** #70 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


### HEINetwork

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heinetwork/id6754226587)

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.

**Highlights:** Exclusive access to On Cinema content, Stream all seasons, Watch Oscar Specials, Comedic cinematic universe, Satire of American culture

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🍿 Certified Popcorn Classic
- 🍿 Bags to stars conversion
- 🍿 Film buffs rejoice!
- 🍿 John Greatman of apps!
- 🍿 5 bags of popcorn

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Terrible app created by an incompetent businessman/criminal

**Reported bugs**

- Confusion with Heineken EN

**Requested features**

- Ads and HEI points bonuses and betting


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Criterion Channel free?

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

### Is HEINetwork free?

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

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

The Criterion Channel and HEINetwork are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 13K and 50 ratings respectively.

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

Neither The Criterion Channel nor HEINetwork shows ads.

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

The Criterion Channel ships an update every 6 weeks, and HEINetwork every 3 weeks. Most recently, The Criterion Channel was updated on September 24, 2026 and HEINetwork on September 5, 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.*