# RunPee vs The Criterion Channel

The clearest difference is monetization model: RunPee at free against The Criterion Channel's subscription. RunPee also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.4). The Criterion Channel's advantage is ratings volume (14K vs 527) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RunPee sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and The Criterion Channel sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for RunPee against 4.8 for The Criterion Channel. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Criterion Channel has 14K ratings behind it against 527, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of RunPee's written reviews are positive against 89% of The Criterion Channel's.

RunPee ships an update every 2 months, The Criterion Channel monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RunPee | The Criterion Channel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (527 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runpee/id450326239/reviews) | **[4.8 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criterion-channel/id1454275199/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 527 | **14K** |
| Positive reviews | 83.2% of reviews | **88.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#83** |
| Size | 81 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [polyGeek](https://appshunter.io/developer/450326242) | [The Criterion Collection, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454275198) |

## What reviewers say

### RunPee

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runpee/id450326239)

Never miss a crucial movie scene again. This app identifies optimal times for bathroom breaks during films, providing summaries of missed content and alerts for post-credit scenes. It's designed for discreet use in theaters with silent notifications.

**Highlights:** Optimal bathroom break times, Summaries of missed scenes, Post-credit scene alerts, Silent vibration notifications, Dark theme for theater use, Available in 42 languages

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| 10 Peecoins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Thumbs Up for Your Peep | $0.99 | one-time |
| 20 Peecoins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Fist Bump for Your Peep | $2.99 | one-time |
| 40 Peecoins | $3.99 | one-time |
| A high-five for your Peep | $4.99 | one-time |
| $10 donation | $9.99 | one-time |
| A hug for your Peep | $9.99 | one-time |
| Infinity Peecoin | $47.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Extremely useful app for movie-goers
- 🚀 Accurate and timely movie information
- 💡 Innovative features like pee times and post-credits info
- 👍 Helpful for managing bathroom breaks without missing important scenes
- 👍 Detailed movie summaries during breaks

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional issues with notifications and alerts
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data collection
- 💰 Complaints about recent monetization changes

**Reported bugs**

- App not loading new movie information
- Vibration/alert issues on certain devices
- User interface problems on larger iPhone screens

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch app integration
- Ability for users to submit pee times
- More customization options


### The Criterion Channel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criterion-channel/id1454275199)

**Currently charting:** #83 Top Grossing · Entertainment (US App Store)

Access thousands of classic, foreign, art-house, and independent films, along with exclusive bonus features. Stream ad-free on multiple devices and download content for offline viewing. Discover curated collections and guest picks from renowned filmmakers.

**Highlights:** Thousands of classic and international films, Exclusive bonus features, Ad-free streaming, Offline viewing, Curated collections, Guest picks from filmmakers, High-quality video and surround sound

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Criterion Channel Subscription | $10.99 | per month |
| Criterion Channel Subscription | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎥 Excellent collection of films
- 🎨 Great curation and themed collections
- 🔍 Ability to discover new and classic films
- 🎬 High-quality film viewing experience
- 🤓 Educational and informative supplementary content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficult to browse full catalog
- 🔍 Limited search and filtering options
- 🐛 Playback issues and interruptions
- 🔌 Problems with offline viewing and downloads
- 🤖 Lack of personalized recommendations

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent playback interruptions and freezing
- Unreliable offline viewing and download issues
- Inconsistent app performance across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to view full catalog of available titles
- More advanced search and filtering tools
- Improved playback stability and offline functionality
- Personalized recommendations based on viewing history
- Ratings and user reviews system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RunPee free?

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

### Is The Criterion Channel free?

The Criterion Channel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RunPee or The Criterion Channel?

The Criterion Channel is rated higher. RunPee averages 4.8 out of 5 from 527 ratings, while The Criterion Channel averages 4.8 from 14K ratings.

### Do RunPee or The Criterion Channel have ads?

Neither RunPee nor The Criterion Channel shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RunPee or The Criterion Channel?

RunPee ships an update every 2 months, and The Criterion Channel monthly. Most recently, RunPee was updated on November 1, 2026 and The Criterion Channel on November 5, 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.*