Comparison

BFI Player (US) vs Watermelon+

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

Head to head
About

BFI Player (US)

Stream a curated selection of acclaimed films, including classics and modern discoveries, on this US-only service. Subscribe for full access to a diverse library of cinematic content across multiple devices.

Highlights
  • Curated film selection
  • Landmark titles and rare classics
  • Modern discoveries
  • Multi-device support
  • Auto-renewing subscription
  • Free trial period
Features
Read full description

Watch acclaimed movies selected by the British Film Institute (BFI) on their US-only streaming service. Explore landmark titles, rare classics & modern discoveries on multiple devices today. To access all features and content you can subscribe to BFI Player Classics on a monthly 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 iTunes 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.bfiplayerclassics.com/tos Privacy Policy: https://www.bfiplayerclassics.com/privacy

About

Watermelon+

This streaming platform showcases films from marginalized and underrepresented communities, featuring documentaries, narratives, and Palestinian cinema. It offers early access to new releases and a curated collection of impactful stories.

Highlights
  • Stream films from marginalized communities
  • Award-winning documentaries
  • Festival favorites and narratives
  • Exclusive Palestinian cinema collection
  • Early access to new releases
Read full description

Watermelon+ is a streaming platform amplifying bold voices from marginalized and underrepresented communities. From award-winning documentaries and festival favorites to unforgettable narratives and hidden gems, Watermelon+ delivers powerful, entertaining stories on our own terms. Get early access to new releases and explore the most definitive collection of Palestinian cinema ever assembled. To access all features and content you can subscribe to Watermelon+ 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 iTunes 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. Cancellations are incurred by disabling auto-renewal. Terms of Service: https://www.watermelonplus.com/tos Privacy Policy: https://www.watermelonplus.com/privacy

Screenshots

BFI Player (US)4 screens
Watermelon+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Watermelon+ at 97% against BFI Player (US)'s 8%. Watermelon+ also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.3) and ratings volume (170 vs 24). BFI Player (US)'s advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. BFI Player (US) sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Watermelon+ sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Watermelon+ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Watermelon+ has 170 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 8% of BFI Player (US)'s written reviews are positive against 97% of Watermelon+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BFI Player (US) ships an update every 3 months, Watermelon+ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 29, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
BFI Player (US) versus Watermelon+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBFI Player (US)Watermelon+
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (24 ratings)5.0 (170 ratings) — better
Positive reviews8.3% of reviews97.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings24170 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TViPhone, iPad, Apple TV
Requires iOS16.616.6
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB78 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperThe British Film InstituteMaljack Productions, Inc

Customer experience

BFI Player (US)

All ratings24 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive8.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative91.7%

Watermelon+

All ratings170 ratings
Positive99.4%
Neutral0.6%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews101 reviews
Positive97.0%
Neutral1.0%
Negative2.0%

Bugs and requests

BFI Player (US)

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Watermelon+

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • None mentioned

Requested features

1 request
  • Content for children

In-app purchases

2 purchases

BFI Player (US)

Subscriptions2
  • BFI Player Classics Monthly14 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • BFI Player Classics$59.001 Year
10 purchases

Watermelon+

Subscriptions2
  • Watermelon+ Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Watermelon+ Yearly$89.991 Year
One-time8
  • Watermelon Pictures - 199$1.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 499$4.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 699$6.99
Show 5 more
  • Watermelon Pictures - 999$9.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 1299$12.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 1499$14.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 1999$19.99
  • Watermelon Pictures - 2499$24.99

Questions

Is BFI Player (US) free?
BFI Player (US) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Watermelon+ free?
Watermelon+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, BFI Player (US) or Watermelon+?
Watermelon+ is rated higher. BFI Player (US) averages 2.3 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Watermelon+ averages 5.0 from 170 ratings.
Do BFI Player (US) or Watermelon+ have ads?
Neither BFI Player (US) nor Watermelon+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BFI Player (US) or Watermelon+?
BFI Player (US) ships an update every 3 months, and Watermelon+ every 2 months. Most recently, BFI Player (US) was updated on August 29, 2026 and Watermelon+ on September 23, 2026.

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