# Cathode Player vs Archive Watch

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Archive Watch at 83% against Cathode Player's 67%. Cathode Player's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 4.0). On price, ratings volume, 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.

Cathode Player holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Cathode Player's written reviews are positive against 83% of Archive Watch's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Cathode Player ships an update weekly, Archive Watch every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cathode Player | Archive Watch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cathode-player/id6765878641/reviews)** | [4.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archive-watch/id6776697407/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **7** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 8 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.1 | **26.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Zabir Raihan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890301412) | [Learning is Change, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/490209731) |

## What reviewers say

### Cathode Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cathode-player/id6765878641)

A native video viewer for following channels and watching content across your Apple devices. Enjoy a fast, lightweight experience with features like picture-in-picture, background audio, and cross-device sync via iCloud. Discover new content with curated channel suggestions.

**Highlights:** Follow channels and view latest videos, Search for videos and channels, Native player with picture-in-picture and background audio, Save videos to Watch Later, Cross-device playback progress sync, Curated channel suggestions

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Archive Watch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archive-watch/id6776697407)

Explore a vast collection of public-domain films, classic TV, and vintage commercials. Enjoy a curated cinematic experience with real posters, cast information, and genre browsing. Create personalized channels or let the app surprise you with delightful discoveries.

**Highlights:** Public domain film and TV streaming, Live programmed channels, Customizable channels, Detailed film and TV show information, Browse by decade, genre, and collection, Surprise Me feature, No ads, subscriptions, or in-app purchases

**Features:** Vision Pro support, SharePlay

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cathode Player free?

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

### Is Archive Watch free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cathode Player or Archive Watch?

Cathode Player is rated higher. Cathode Player averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Archive Watch averages 4.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do Cathode Player or Archive Watch have ads?

Neither Cathode Player nor Archive Watch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cathode Player or Archive Watch?

Cathode Player ships an update weekly, and Archive Watch every 5 days. Most recently, Cathode Player was updated on September 23, 2026 and Archive Watch on September 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.*