# Netflix vs Kanopy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Kanopy at none against Netflix's 8. Kanopy also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (72% vs 59%). Netflix's advantage is ratings volume (7.6M vs 153K) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Netflix sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Kanopy asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Netflix against 4.8 for Kanopy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Netflix has 7.6M ratings behind it against 153K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Netflix's written reviews are positive against 72% of Kanopy's.

Netflix ships an update weekly, Kanopy every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Netflix | Kanopy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (7.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netflix/id363590051/reviews) | **[4.8 (153K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanopy/id1205614510/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.6M** | 153K |
| Positive reviews | 58.8% of reviews | **71.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#17** | #145 |
| Size | 200 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Netflix, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/363590054) | [Kanopy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1205614509) |

## What reviewers say

### Netflix

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netflix/id363590051)

**Currently charting:** #17 Top Free · Entertainment, #17 Top Grossing · Entertainment, #86 Top Free, #107 Top Grossing (US App Store)

Access a vast library of award-winning series, movies, live events, podcasts, and games. Discover new content with personalized recommendations and upcoming clips. Enjoy smooth navigation and keep track of your favorites on the go.

**Highlights:** Award-winning series and movies, Live events and podcasts, Mobile games, Personalized recommendations, Upcoming clips feed, My List feature, Offline viewing

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Netflix | $19.99 | per month |
| Netflix 2 Screens - Unlimited Streaming | $19.99 | per month |
| Netflix Standard | $19.99 | per month |
| Netflix 4 Screens - Unlimited Streaming | $26.99 | per month |
| Netflix Premium | $26.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great selection of movies and TV shows
- 👍 Convenient offline viewing
- 💡 Customizable profiles for different users
- 🚀 Smooth streaming experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and bugs in the app
- 🔋 High data usage and battery drain
- 🤔 Inconsistent rating system and content availability
- 😡 Removing popular shows and movies

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Offline downloads not working as expected
- Profile switching issues
- Playback controls not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Add a teen-friendly section
- Allow removing items from 'Continue Watching'
- Improve content management and availability
- Provide better account management options


### Kanopy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kanopy/id1205614510)

**Currently charting:** #145 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Access a vast library of films and documentaries for free with your library card. Enjoy ad-free streaming of award-winning movies, The Criterion Collection, and curated content for children, with new titles added regularly.

**Highlights:** Free film streaming, Ad-free viewing, Library card required, Festival award-winning films, Documentaries, The Criterion Collection, Kanopy Kids with parental controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎥 Eclectic and engaging selection of films and series
- 🎬 Great movies and documentaries
- 🏆 Excellent content and thoughtful entertainment
- 🌍 Wide selection of various international material
- 🧠 Fantastic educational content like The Great Courses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes, freezes, and has stability issues
- 🔍 Difficult to search and navigate, poor user experience
- 🕰️ Losing credits just for resuming a movie
- 🔇 No way to turn off closed captions
- 📺 Chromecast and TV integration problems

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes frequently
- Login issues, unable to sign in or access account
- Chromecast and TV streaming problems
- Video playback issues, including blurry or out of sync
- Inconsistent behavior when resuming or rewatching movies

**Requested features**

- Add ability to pause, rewind, and resume movies without using credits
- Improve search and browsing functionality
- Provide more content filtering and parental control options
- Add support for offline viewing and downloads
- Enhance Chromecast and TV integration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Netflix free?

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

### Is Kanopy free?

Kanopy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Netflix or Kanopy?

Kanopy is rated higher. Netflix averages 4.7 out of 5 from 7.6M ratings, while Kanopy averages 4.8 from 153K ratings.

### Do Netflix or Kanopy have ads?

Netflix shows ads; Kanopy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Netflix or Kanopy?

Netflix ships an update weekly, and Kanopy every 2 weeks. Most recently, Netflix was updated on November 10, 2026 and Kanopy on November 10, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Netflix or Kanopy?

Netflix currently peaks at #17 in the App Store charts, and Kanopy at #145. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*