# NFB Films vs CineStarz

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NFB Films at 41% against CineStarz's 0%. NFB Films also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 15 months) 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

NFB Films ships an update every 3 weeks, CineStarz every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NFB Films | CineStarz |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfb-films/id378813687/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8** | — |
| Positive reviews | **41.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 36 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [National Film Board of Canada – Office national du film du Canada](https://appshunter.io/developer/329353641) | [READY THEATRE SYSTEMS, L.L.C.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1461665525) |

## 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


### CineStarz

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cinestarz/id1502024821)

Find daily movie showtimes and discover upcoming attractions. Access ticket pricing and theater details. Stay updated with the latest showtime information and receive promotional notifications so you never miss a film.

**Highlights:** Daily showtimes, Coming soon attractions, Ticket pricing, Theater information, Promotional notifications

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NFB Films free?

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

### Is CineStarz free?

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

### Do NFB Films or CineStarz have ads?

Neither NFB Films nor CineStarz shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NFB Films or CineStarz?

NFB Films ships an update every 3 weeks, and CineStarz every 15 months. Most recently, NFB Films was updated on October 1, 2026 and CineStarz on September 27, 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.*