Comparison

Drafthouse Notifications vs It's Starting!

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Drafthouse Notifications

Features
Read full description

Elevate Your Alamo Drafthouse Experience with Drafthouse Notifications Never miss a sold-out show or a newly added screening again. Drafthouse Notifications is the essential companion app for any Alamo Drafthouse enthusiast, providing timely alerts for new releases, additional showtimes, and newly available seats for popular films. This intuitive app allows you to take control of your movie-going experience with a trio of powerful, customizable subscription options. Set your preferences and let Drafthouse Notifications do the hard work of monitoring showtimes, so you can focus on the excitement of your next trip to the cinema. Key Features: New Release Subscriptions: Be the first to know when tickets go on sale for the latest blockbusters and most anticipated films at your favorite Alamo Drafthouse location. New Showtime Subscriptions: Stay ahead of the curve by receiving instant alerts when new showtimes are added for movies that are already playing. This is perfect for planning your week or catching a film you might have missed. Sold-Out Show Subscriptions: Your second chance at seeing a sold-out movie is here. Subscribe to a full screening and receive an immediate notification if seats become available, giving you the opportunity to swoop in and grab a spot before anyone else. Drafthouse Notifications is the unofficial tool for the dedicated Alamo Drafthouse fan, designed to ensure you never miss out on the films you love. Simple, powerful, and built for the serious cinephile, this app is your secret weapon for securing the best seats at the best cinema. A Drafthouse Notifications Premium subscription is required to use the app. Drafthouse Notifications is not affiliated with Alamo Drafthouse. All movie posters and titles are the property of their respective owners. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

It's Starting!

This app helps you know the actual movie start times at theaters, factoring in preshows and trailers. It also provides ratings for auditoriums based on user feedback regarding screen quality, sound, and seating.

Highlights
  • Real preshow time estimates
  • Auditorium ratings for quality and comfort
  • User-contributed data for accuracy
  • Apple Wallet integration for ticket sharing
  • Arrival reminders
  • Post-credit scene information
Features
Read full description

Never miss the opening scene. Never settle for a bad screen. It’s Starting! is the crowdsourced movie theater intelligence platform that reveals what theaters and ticketing apps won’t: actual trailer runtimes, real feature start times, and room-by-room presentation quality, logged directly by moviegoers in the seats. Tired of sitting through 25 minutes of commercials? Want to know if an auditorium has dim projection, blown speakers, or a broken recliner before you buy a ticket? It’s Starting! takes the guesswork out of movie night. What You Get With It’s Starting! Real Feature Start Times (Plan Your Arrival) • Showtime isn’t when the movie starts. See typical trailer runways for your local multiplex so you never rush or sit through endless ads. • Live preshow countdowns give you a clear estimate of when the feature will hit the screen based on real community logs. • Know when special events, fan screenings, or indie films have shortened trailer packages. Room-by-Room Auditorium Intel • Don't rely on a single 3-star rating for an entire multiplex. Evaluate each auditorium individually before you book your seats. • Check verified presentation quality: picture brightness, sound balance, room temperature, and cleanliness. • Uncover granular seat-level warnings: spot tight legroom, sightline barriers, worn armrests, or broken recliners. • View technical hardware specs: track laser projection, 70mm and 15-perf film capability, 1.43:1 IMAX aspect ratios, and Dolby Atmos audio setups. Start a Screening Report in Seconds • Tap once when the studio logo hits to log the actual start time and help the next moviegoer. • Enjoy the movie with zero distractions: we calculate when the credits roll and prompt you to audit the screen and sound after the show. • Join a passionate community where over 75% of movie check-ins include a verified room audit. Seamless Ticket Import & Sharing • Share your ticket directly from Apple Wallet or scan a ticket image to auto-fill your movie, auditorium, showtime, and format. • Receive arrival alerts, lock-screen countdown timers, and post-movie reminders. • Check post-credit scene details before getting out of your seat. Real Accessibility & Facility Updates • See firsthand reports on wheelchair spaces, companion seating, assistive listening, and step-free access. • Stay ahead of out-of-order elevators or auditorium maintenance issues before you leave home. A Shared Record for Cinema Lovers It’s Starting! is built by moviegoers, for moviegoers. Whether you are a casual viewer planning concessions or a film purist seeking out the best laser projection in town, every log makes the theater experience better for the next person in line. Download It’s Starting! and know before you sit.

Screenshots

Drafthouse Notifications4 screens
It's Starting!4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: It's Starting! at none against Drafthouse Notifications's 1. It's Starting! also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Drafthouse Notifications sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. It's Starting! asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Drafthouse Notifications ships an update every 6 weeks, It's Starting! weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Drafthouse Notifications versus It's Starting!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrafthouse NotificationsIt's Starting!
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.2 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatthew GravisMichael Kazanjian

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Drafthouse Notifications

Subscriptions1
  • DN Premium$5.991 Month
None

It's Starting!

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Drafthouse Notifications free?
Drafthouse Notifications is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is It's Starting! free?
It's Starting! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Drafthouse Notifications or It's Starting! have ads?
Neither Drafthouse Notifications nor It's Starting! shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Drafthouse Notifications or It's Starting!?
Drafthouse Notifications ships an update every 6 weeks, and It's Starting! weekly. Most recently, Drafthouse Notifications was updated on October 30, 2026 and It's Starting! on October 31, 2026.

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