# Essential Sci vs Eagle Nine

The clearest difference is rating: Eagle Nine at 5.0 against Essential Sci's 4.5. Eagle Nine also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). Essential Sci's advantage is ratings volume (31 vs 4) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Essential Sci sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Eagle Nine sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Eagle Nine holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Essential Sci has 31 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Essential Sci ships an update every 6 weeks, Eagle Nine weekly. Both last shipped on September 17, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Essential Sci | Eagle Nine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essential-sci-fi-channel/id1635437392/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eagle-nine-locked/id6445828430/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **31** | 4 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 753 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [MacMillan Interactive Communications, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/820481297) | [Driven Catalyst](https://appshunter.io/developer/1257848987) |

## What reviewers say

### Essential Sci

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essential-sci-fi-channel/id1635437392)

Stream a vast library of science fiction movies and TV shows for free. Subscribe monthly to enjoy an ad-free viewing experience and access premium content.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of hours of sci-fi content, Free streaming, Monthly ad-free subscription, Watch on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, iPod

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Essential Sci-Fi Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| Essential Sci-Fi Yearly Sub | $69.99 | per year |


### Eagle Nine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eagle-nine-locked/id6445828430)

Immerse yourself in a sci-fi adventure podcast exploring the impact of technology on society. Follow a character's journey through a dystopian world filled with artificial intelligence and unanswered questions. Experience a full sound field for a deeply engaging audio narrative.

**Highlights:** Sci-fi adventure narrative, Explores technology's impact, Full sound field immersion, Dystopian world setting, Artificial intelligence themes

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Season 1 Episode 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Episode 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Episode 4 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Episode 5 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Episode 6 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Episode 8 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Episode 7 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Essential Sci free?

Essential Sci is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Eagle Nine free?

Eagle Nine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Essential Sci or Eagle Nine?

Eagle Nine is rated higher. Essential Sci averages 4.5 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Eagle Nine averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Essential Sci or Eagle Nine have ads?

Both Essential Sci and Eagle Nine show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Essential Sci or Eagle Nine?

Essential Sci ships an update every 6 weeks, and Eagle Nine weekly. Most recently, Essential Sci was updated on September 17, 2026 and Eagle Nine on September 17, 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.*