# NFB Films vs Rideau

The clearest difference is update cadence: Rideau at every 9 days against NFB Films's every 3 weeks. Rideau also leads on iOS requirement (12.2 vs 15.6). NFB Films's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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, Rideau every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NFB Films | Rideau |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfb-films/id378813687/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8** | — |
| Positive reviews | 41.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 36 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.2** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [National Film Board of Canada – Office national du film du Canada](https://appshunter.io/developer/329353641) | [RIDEAU inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484124405) |

## 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


### Rideau

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rideau/id1668576475)

**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 Rideau free?

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

### Do NFB Films or Rideau have ads?

Neither NFB Films nor Rideau shows ads.

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

NFB Films ships an update every 3 weeks, and Rideau every 9 days. Most recently, NFB Films was updated on November 1, 2026 and Rideau on October 10, 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.*