# STARZ vs Popstar!

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Popstar! at 80% against STARZ's 9%. Popstar! also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). STARZ's advantage is ratings volume (332K vs 44) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. STARZ sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month and Popstar! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

STARZ holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: STARZ has 332K ratings behind it against 44, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 9% of STARZ's written reviews are positive against 80% of Popstar!'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

STARZ ships an update every 3 weeks, Popstar! every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | STARZ | Popstar! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (332K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starz/id550221096/reviews)** | [4.6 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popstar/id1459064938/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **332K** | 44 |
| Positive reviews | 9.1% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#16** | — |
| Size | 62 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Starz Entertainment, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/550221102) | [ASSOCIATED ENTERTAINMENT RELEASING, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1445714405) |

## What reviewers say

### STARZ

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

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Grossing · Entertainment, #112 Top Grossing, #124 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


### Popstar!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popstar/id1459064938)

Access a 24/7 live streaming channel featuring original dramas, comedies, movies, and internet trends. Enjoy on-demand series and short-form content tailored to your viewing preferences. Explore celebrity-driven commentary and a vast library of entertainment.

**Highlights:** 24/7 live streaming channel, Original dramas and comedies, SVOD/VOD series and movies, Short-form internet sensations, Celebrity-branded features, Interactive videos

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stream | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is STARZ free?

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

### Is Popstar! free?

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

### Which has better reviews, STARZ or Popstar!?

STARZ is rated higher. STARZ averages 4.8 out of 5 from 332K ratings, while Popstar! averages 4.6 from 44 ratings.

### Do STARZ or Popstar! have ads?

Both STARZ and Popstar! show ads.

### Which is updated more often, STARZ or Popstar!?

STARZ ships an update every 3 weeks, and Popstar! every 3 months. Most recently, STARZ was updated on November 1, 2026 and Popstar! on October 24, 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.*