# The Criterion Channel vs The Self Stack

The clearest difference is price: The Criterion Channel at Free against The Self Stack's $5.99. The Criterion Channel also leads on chart position (#79 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (17.4 vs 26.1). The Self Stack's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

The Criterion Channel is free to download; The Self Stack costs $5.99 up front. The Criterion Channel sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. The Self Stack asks for nothing beyond the download.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Criterion Channel | The Self Stack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $5.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criterion-channel/id1454275199/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 89.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | — |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Best chart rank | **#79** | — |
| Size | 58 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.4** | 26.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Criterion Collection, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454275198) | [Kari Sullivan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1865565878) |

## What reviewers say

### The Criterion Channel

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

**Currently charting:** #79 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


### The Self Stack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-self-stack/id6758219496)

**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 The Self Stack free?

The Self Stack costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do The Criterion Channel or The Self Stack have ads?

Neither The Criterion Channel nor The Self Stack shows ads.

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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.*