Comparison

IMAX vs A24

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

IMAX

Discover upcoming films, documentaries, and live events. Save your favorite theaters to stay updated on showtimes and release dates. Access exclusive content like cast messages and digital art.

Highlights
  • Save favorite theaters
  • View showtimes and release dates
  • Browse film and event listings
  • Access exclusive cast messages
  • Download exclusive IMAX Art
  • Explore capsule collections
Read full description

From Hollywood blockbuster releases to exclusive one-night-only artist performances, IMAX is personalizing your theatre experience with the help of our app: - Save your home theatre and stay updated on what’s playing on our screens - Learn release dates for films, documentaries, and amazing, one-night-only IMAX Live experiences - Browse our limited-edition capsule collections celebrating the history of our cameras and our filmmaking heritage - Receive exclusive downloadable messages from cast and crew, and save our exclusive IMAX Art on your phone Download today to be in the best seat tomorrow. Terms of Use: https://www.imax.com/content/terms-service Privacy Policy: https://www.imax.com/content/privacy-policy

About

A24

Access exclusive perks, a full library of bonus content, and A24 films in one convenient app. Rent or own movies with filmmaker commentaries, watch behind-the-scenes documentaries, and enjoy member-only benefits. Stay updated on new features and exclusive offerings.

Highlights
  • Browse and rent/own A24 movies
  • Filmmaker commentaries
  • Behind-the-scenes documentaries
  • Interviews and bonus features
  • Exclusive member perks
  • Updates on new features
Features
Read full description

Welcome to the A24 All Access App. Exclusive perks, our full library of bonus content, and your favorite A24 movies — all in one place. • Browse A24 movies available to rent (and own) with filmmaker commentaries • Watch hundreds of hours of behind-the-scenes docs, interviews, and bonus features • AAA24 members get more: First looks, deeper cuts, free screenings, & exclusive perks • Get updates on new features and perks directly in the app… …and much more to come. WHAT IS AAA24? AAA24 (aka 'A24 All Access') is a membership program for A24 customers and fans. Benefits include a zine subscription, birthday gift, Instagram Close Friends access, members-only product drops, shop discounts, and now the All Access App.

Screenshots

IMAX4 screens
A244 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: A24 at 3.6 against IMAX's 2.2. A24 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (206 vs 34). IMAX's advantage is review sentiment (35% vs 22%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. IMAX sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and A24 sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

A24 holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: A24 has 206 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 35% of IMAX's written reviews are positive against 22% of A24's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IMAX ships an update monthly, A24 every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
IMAX versus A24: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIMAXA24
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (34 ratings)3.6 (206 ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.6% of reviews — better21.9% of reviews
Number of ratings34206 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Vision ProiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size124 MB175 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperIMAX CorporationA24 FILMS

Customer experience

IMAX

All ratings32 ratings
Positive31.3%
Neutral3.1%
Negative65.6%
Written reviews104 reviews
Positive34.6%
Neutral10.6%
Negative54.8%

A24

All ratings206 ratings
Positive63.1%
Neutral3.4%
Negative33.5%
Written reviews64 reviews
Positive21.9%
Neutral4.7%
Negative73.4%

User reviews

IMAX

From 34 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎬 Immersive IMAX theater experience on Vision Pro
  • 🎨 Stunning visual quality and display
  • 🎭 Authentic theater atmosphere with seat selection
  • 📱 Good app performance and loading speed
  • 🎥 3D content available

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App crashes and freezes on splash screen
  • ❌ Content loading errors frequently
  • 📍 Location database outdated/incomplete
  • 🌍 Poor international support (especially Australia)
  • 💰 Rental-only model with limited purchasing options

A24

From 206 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎁 Great perks and gifts
  • ✨ Sleek and easy interface
  • 🎬 Treasure trove of bonus content
  • 💖 Supports indie film studio
  • 👍 Good for A24 fans

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Insanely buggy and unreliable
  • 🔇 Sound issues common
  • 🚫 AirPlay issues (no sound/video)
  • 📺 No Apple TV app
  • 💻 Poor app functionality

Bugs and requests

IMAX

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • App freezes on splash screen or black screen
  • Content loading error: 'There was an error loading the content'
  • Unable to retrieve content in certain regions
  • Login failures and authentication issues
  • App crashes after initial use
Show 5 more
  • Control center down arrow continuously flashing
  • Error messages appear without actual issues
  • Theater location search returns no results for existing locations
  • Password validation rejects secure keychain-generated passwords
  • Movie not displaying in expected 3D format despite listing

Requested features

18 requests
  • Add option to purchase movies instead of renting
  • Expand content library with major films (Dune, Oppenheimer, Interstellar, TRON, Lord of the Rings)
  • Subscription model for unlimited access
  • Update location database with new theaters
  • Add support for multiple favorite theaters
Show 13 more
  • Include full-length IMAX movies in 1.43 aspect ratio
  • Add 3D content for all available titles
  • Implement search functionality
  • Show rental duration and movie length information
  • Add trailers for all paid content
  • Download feature for offline viewing
  • Monthly or yearly subscription option
  • Shared viewing experience with other users
  • Hand visibility toggle for low-light viewing
  • Support for more countries and regions
  • Guest login option without account creation
  • Movie recommendations and sorting options
  • Theater kiosk ordering integration

A24

Reported bugs

17 issues
  • Free tickets hard to redeem
  • Movies have no sound
  • Purchased movies have no sound
  • AirPlay has no sound or video
  • Content not loading
Show 12 more
  • App crashes frequently
  • Login issues
  • Proceed button not working
  • App blacked out
  • App stopped working after update
  • Green distortion when casting
  • Cannot pause without restarting
  • External links not working
  • Billing issues
  • Customer service unhelpful
  • Cannot redeem credits
  • Cannot open an account, only sign in

Requested features

10 requests
  • Add Apple TV app
  • Improve AirPlay functionality
  • Allow in-app shop purchases
  • Integrate shop with app
  • Improve app functionality and user experience
Show 5 more
  • Allow app sign-ups within the app
  • Add download option for digital copies
  • Add subtitles
  • Link to Apple TV for better viewing
  • Improve player functionality

In-app purchases

10 purchases

IMAX

One-time10
  • Hail Columbia$1.99
  • Fires of Kuwait$1.99
  • Journey to the South Pacific$4.99
Show 7 more
  • Superpower Dogs [3D]$4.99
  • Pandas [3D]$4.99
  • Planet Earth 3: Ep5: Forrests$4.99
  • Planet Earth 3: Ep1: Coasts$4.99
  • Planet Earth 3: Ep2: Ocean$4.99
  • A Beautiful Planet [3D]$5.99
  • Deep Sky$6.99
10 purchases

A24

One-time10
  • Pearl$3.99
  • X Movie$3.99
  • Talk to Me$3.99
Show 7 more
  • Past Lives$3.99
  • Beau is Afraid$5.99
  • The Drama$5.99
  • Hazbin Hotel Early Access$6.69
  • Backrooms$7.99
  • Midsommar$14.99
  • The Board: Director Adam Wi...$15.00

Questions

Is IMAX free?
IMAX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is A24 free?
A24 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, IMAX or A24?
A24 is rated higher. IMAX averages 2.2 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while A24 averages 3.6 from 206 ratings.
Do IMAX or A24 have ads?
IMAX shows ads; A24 does not.
Which is updated more often, IMAX or A24?
IMAX ships an update monthly, and A24 every 4 weeks. Most recently, IMAX was updated on November 3, 2026 and A24 on November 3, 2026.

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