# TheSurfNetwork vs BFI Player (US)

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TheSurfNetwork at 75% against BFI Player (US)'s 8%. TheSurfNetwork also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.3) and ratings volume (528 vs 24). BFI Player (US)'s advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TheSurfNetwork sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and BFI Player (US) sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TheSurfNetwork holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TheSurfNetwork has 528 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of TheSurfNetwork's written reviews are positive against 8% of BFI Player (US)'s.

TheSurfNetwork ships an update every 2 months, BFI Player (US) every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TheSurfNetwork | BFI Player (US) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (528 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thesurfnetwork/id449934644/reviews)** | [2.3 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bfi-player-us/id1564438447/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **528** | 24 |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 8.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 30 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opper Sports, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/449934647) | [The British Film Institute](https://appshunter.io/developer/699793649) |

## What reviewers say

### TheSurfNetwork

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thesurfnetwork/id449934644)

Stream the world's largest collection of surf videos, from classic films to the latest action. Explore documentaries, event coverage, and more, all professionally produced. Access content across devices with offline playback and resume functionality.

**Highlights:** Extensive surf video library, Cross-device watchlist, Resume playback, Offline playback, AirPlay and Chromecast support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $5.99 | per month |
| Yearly Membership | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤙 Epic surf content
- 👍 Great service for surfers
- 💡 Good search function
- 🌊 Inspiration during quarantine
- 💯 Stellar movie selection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💥 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 Unstable app performance
- 📉 Incomplete movie selection
- ❌ App not opening on older iPhones
- 🚫 App freezes on login

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes consistently
- App is totally unstable and stops playing
- Playback menu duplicates
- App freezes up every time trying to log in
- Cannot open app on iPhone 6s

**Requested features**

- Add more popular surf movies (e.g., The September Sessions, Endless Summer 2)
- Update the app for compatibility with newer iPhone models (e.g., iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus)


### BFI Player (US)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bfi-player-us/id1564438447)

Stream a curated selection of acclaimed films, including classics and modern discoveries, on this US-only service. Subscribe for full access to a diverse library of cinematic content across multiple devices.

**Highlights:** Curated film selection, Landmark titles and rare classics, Modern discoveries, Multi-device support, Auto-renewing subscription, Free trial period

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BFI Player Classics Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| BFI Player Classics | $59.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TheSurfNetwork free?

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

### Is BFI Player (US) free?

BFI Player (US) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TheSurfNetwork or BFI Player (US)?

TheSurfNetwork is rated higher. TheSurfNetwork averages 4.8 out of 5 from 528 ratings, while BFI Player (US) averages 2.3 from 24 ratings.

### Do TheSurfNetwork or BFI Player (US) have ads?

Neither TheSurfNetwork nor BFI Player (US) shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TheSurfNetwork or BFI Player (US)?

TheSurfNetwork ships an update every 2 months, and BFI Player (US) every 3 months. Most recently, TheSurfNetwork was updated on October 17, 2026 and BFI Player (US) on October 14, 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.*