# Amazon Prime Video vs STARZ

The clearest difference is monetization model: Amazon Prime Video at free with in-app purchases against STARZ's subscription. Amazon Prime Video also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (3.1M vs 332K). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Amazon Prime Video sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and STARZ sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 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 Amazon Prime Video against 4.8 for STARZ. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Amazon Prime Video has 3.1M ratings behind it against 332K, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Amazon Prime Video ships an update every 4 days, STARZ every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Amazon Prime Video | STARZ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.1M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amazon-prime-video/id545519333/reviews) | **[4.8 (332K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starz/id550221096/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.1M** | 332K |
| Positive reviews | — | 9.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | #15 |
| Size | 348 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [AMZN Mobile LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/297606954) | [Starz Entertainment, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/550221102) |

## What reviewers say

### Amazon Prime Video

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amazon-prime-video/id545519333)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Grossing · Entertainment, #13 Top Free · Entertainment, #33 Top Grossing, #72 Top Free (US App Store)

Stream a vast library of movies, TV shows, live events, and sports. Discover original series and films, rent or buy new releases, and enjoy personalized recommendations. Download content to watch offline and create individual profiles for a tailored viewing experience.

**Highlights:** Watch original series and movies, Download videos for offline viewing, Rent or buy new releases, Personalized recommendations, Multiple user profiles, X-Ray access powered by IMDb

**Features:** Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad free | $2.99 | per month |
| Prime Video Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Prime Video Monthly | $8.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great selection of movies and TV shows
- 💡 Useful X-Ray feature with trivia and cast info
- 👍 Smooth streaming experience
- 🎁 Good value as part of Prime membership

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent syncing of progress across devices
- 🔍 Cluttered and confusing user interface
- 💰 Excessive ads and upsells for additional content
- 🔍 Difficult to find and access purchased content

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent playback issues and buffering
- Subtitles not working correctly
- App crashes and freezes on various devices

**Requested features**

- Improved search and browsing experience
- Ability to create user profiles and watchlists
- Seamless Chromecast/AirPlay integration
- Better organization of free vs. paid content


### STARZ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starz/id550221096)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Grossing · Entertainment, #101 Top Grossing, #117 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Access a library of bold original series and hit movies with this streaming service. Enjoy ad-free and offline viewing on multiple devices. Explore boundary-breaking content for adult audiences.

**Highlights:** Ad-free streaming, Offline viewing, Watch on multiple devices, Groundbreaking original series, Blockbuster hit movies

**Features:** Family Sharing, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| STARZ® App Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| STARZ® Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| STARZ® Monthly (T-Mobile) | $11.99 | per month |
| STARZ® App Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| STARZ® Three Month | $25.99 | per 3 months |
| STARZ® Six Month | $45.99 | per 6 months |
| STARZ® Six Month (T-Mobile) | $45.99 | per 6 months |
| STARZ® Annual | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Great content and selection
- 👍 User-friendly app interface
- 🚀 Reliable video streaming
- 💎 Excellent adaptation of book series

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🔀 Inconsistent resume functionality
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
- ⏱️ Slow app performance
- 💸 Subscription issues and billing problems

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to enter parental control PIN
- Downloaded content randomly deleted
- Incorrect movie/show playback
- Login issues with TV provider accounts

**Requested features**

- Add option to turn off autoplay
- Improve syncing across devices
- Provide more detailed episode information
- Implement better parental controls


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Amazon Prime Video free?

Amazon Prime Video is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is STARZ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Amazon Prime Video or STARZ?

STARZ is rated higher. Amazon Prime Video averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.1M ratings, while STARZ averages 4.8 from 332K ratings.

### Do Amazon Prime Video or STARZ have ads?

Both Amazon Prime Video and STARZ show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Amazon Prime Video or STARZ?

Amazon Prime Video ships an update every 4 days, and STARZ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Amazon Prime Video was updated on October 28, 2026 and STARZ on October 28, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Amazon Prime Video or STARZ?

Amazon Prime Video currently peaks at #7 in the App Store charts, and STARZ at #15. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*