# CRKD vs Pocket Beacon

The clearest difference is monetization model: CRKD at free with in-app purchases against Pocket Beacon's subscription. CRKD also leads on review sentiment (37% vs 27%). Pocket Beacon's advantage is ratings volume (356 vs 54). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Pocket Beacon holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocket Beacon has 356 ratings behind it against 54, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 37% of CRKD's written reviews are positive against 27% of Pocket Beacon's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

CRKD ships an update monthly, Pocket Beacon every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CRKD | Pocket Beacon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crkd/id6444815271/reviews) | **[3.3 (356 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-beacon/id6477957665/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 54 | **356** |
| Positive reviews | **37.1% of reviews** | 27.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 53 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Aionic Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1540329112) | [Critical Role Productions, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1731211696) |

## What reviewers say

### CRKD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crkd/id6444815271)

Enhance your gaming gear experience with this app. Reveal product rarity, access exclusive content, and stay updated on new releases. Shop for premium gaming products and find support resources.

**Highlights:** Reveal product rarity, Seamless sign-up options, Push notifications for updates, Explore and shop the store, Access support and guide videos, Join a gaming community

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pocket Beacon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-beacon/id6477957665)

Unlock exclusive content and benefits for fans of a popular web series. Enjoy ad-free viewing, early access to events, merchandise discounts, and bonus episodes. Support independent creator-owned media.

**Highlights:** Ad-free access to video and podcast library, Exclusive pre-sales for live events, Invitation to a private Discord server, Persistent merchandise discount, Bonus content (Cooldown, Fireside Chats), Same-day podcast releases

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth streaming
- 🎥 Great content organization
- 💰 Good value for subscription
- 👍 Easy to navigate

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Inconsistent progress tracking
- 🔇 No background audio playback
- 🔒 Repeated login issues

**Reported bugs**

- Videos starting from the beginning
- Freezing when switching to audio mode
- Inconsistent behavior when locking screen

**Requested features**

- Picture-in-picture mode
- Offline video downloads
- Customizable playback controls
- Apple TV app support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CRKD free?

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

### Is Pocket Beacon free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CRKD or Pocket Beacon?

Pocket Beacon is rated higher. CRKD averages 3.1 out of 5 from 54 ratings, while Pocket Beacon averages 3.3 from 356 ratings.

### Do CRKD or Pocket Beacon have ads?

Neither CRKD nor Pocket Beacon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CRKD or Pocket Beacon?

CRKD ships an update monthly, and Pocket Beacon every 3 weeks. Most recently, CRKD was updated on September 18, 2026 and Pocket Beacon on September 20, 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.*