# NFB Films vs Comwave TV

The clearest difference is rating: Comwave TV at 5.0 against NFB Films's 4.0. Comwave TV also leads on iOS requirement (11.3 vs 15.6). NFB Films's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 13 months) and review sentiment (41% vs 29%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Comwave TV holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NFB Films has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 41% of NFB Films's written reviews are positive against 29% of Comwave TV's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

NFB Films ships an update every 3 weeks, Comwave TV every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NFB Films | Comwave TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfb-films/id378813687/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comwave-tv/id1423924290/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **41.3% of reviews** | 28.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 36 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **11.3** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [National Film Board of Canada – Office national du film du Canada](https://appshunter.io/developer/329353641) | [Comwave](https://appshunter.io/developer/409193893) |

## What reviewers say

### NFB Films

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfb-films/id378813687)

Explore a vast library of Canadian films, including award-winning documentaries, animations, and Indigenous productions. Stream content in English or French, with options for offline viewing and personalized recommendations. Discover cinematic classics and new releases without any subscription fees or ads.

**Highlights:** Thousands of Canadian films, Award-winning works, Indigenous-made films, Documentaries and animation, English and French content, Offline viewing, Personalized recommendations

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Extensive free library of films and documentaries
- 🎨 High-quality diverse content including animations
- 📱 Works well on multiple devices (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV)
- 💾 Offline download capability for 48-hour viewing
- ❤️ Favorites/bookmarking feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and instability
- ⚪ Blank/white screen issues
- ⏸️ Freezing when paused for extended periods
- 🔄 Syncing issues between devices
- 🎬 Limited film selection on some platforms (e.g., Apple TV)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or during playback
- Blank white screen on startup
- Freezing after pausing for several minutes
- Video plays without audio or audio without video
- Offline downloads lost upon app restart

**Requested features**

- Chromecast support
- Language selection for audio tracks
- Watch later/queue list feature
- Cross-device favorites synchronization
- User account login system


### Comwave TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comwave-tv/id1423924290)

Stream live television and access your recorded shows directly on your iPhone and iPad. Manage your TV guide, schedule new recordings, and delete existing ones with this companion app. Requires an active Comwave TV subscription and connection to your home Wi-Fi.

**Highlights:** Watch live TV, Access recorded shows, View TV guide, Schedule new recordings, Delete recordings, iPhone and iPad support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NFB Films free?

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

### Is Comwave TV free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NFB Films or Comwave TV?

Comwave TV is rated higher. NFB Films averages 4.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Comwave TV averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do NFB Films or Comwave TV have ads?

Neither NFB Films nor Comwave TV shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NFB Films or Comwave TV?

NFB Films ships an update every 3 weeks, and Comwave TV every 13 months. Most recently, NFB Films was updated on September 22, 2026 and Comwave TV on September 25, 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.*