Comparison

BFI Player (US) vs HansonTV

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

HansonTV

Read full description

HansonTV is a streaming TV service available exclusively to Hanson Communications Inc. High-speed Data customers. Watch TV how you want, anytime you want using your favorite mobile device or TV without the need for a set top box! Amazing features include: Cloud DVR - Base service is 10 hours with options up to 200 hours of recording. All channels broadcast in High Definition. All of your favorite sports channels include. Add devices and hours of cloud storage for a small additional fee.

Screenshots

BFI Player (US)4 screens
HansonTV4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HansonTV at none against BFI Player (US)'s 2. On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. HansonTV asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
BFI Player (US) versus HansonTV: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBFI Player (US)HansonTV
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (24 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews8.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings24 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TViPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB38 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperThe British Film InstituteTiVo Platform Technologies LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

BFI Player (US)

Subscriptions2
  • BFI Player Classics Monthly14 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • BFI Player Classics$59.001 Year
None

HansonTV

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BFI Player (US) free?
BFI Player (US) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HansonTV free?
HansonTV is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BFI Player (US) or HansonTV have ads?
Neither BFI Player (US) nor HansonTV shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BFI Player (US) or HansonTV?
BFI Player (US) ships an update every 3 months, and HansonTV every 3 months. Most recently, BFI Player (US) was updated on October 14, 2026 and HansonTV on October 16, 2026.

Other comparisons