# MBC Shahid vs START

The clearest difference is rating: START at 3.8 against MBC Shahid's 3.0. START also leads on review sentiment (35% vs 16%) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). MBC Shahid's advantage is ratings volume (22K vs 194) and chart position (#39 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MBC Shahid sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and START sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

START holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MBC Shahid has 22K ratings behind it against 194, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of MBC Shahid's written reviews are positive against 35% of START's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MBC Shahid | START |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mbc-shahid/id879915134/reviews) | **[3.8 (194 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start/id1273218458/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 194 |
| Positive reviews | 15.9% of reviews | **34.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#39** | — |
| Size | 142 MB | 558 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [MBC Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/387763189) | [Start.Ru LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1273218457) |

## What reviewers say

### MBC Shahid

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mbc-shahid/id879915134)

**Currently charting:** #39 Top Grossing · Entertainment, #205 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Access a vast library of Arabic Originals, exclusive series, blockbuster movies, and live TV channels. Enjoy live sports in HD and unmissable events. Download content to watch offline and create personalized profiles for family-friendly viewing.

**Highlights:** Exclusive Arabic Originals, Live Sports in HD, Unmissable Live Events, Ad-Free Streaming (with subscription), Live TV Channels, Exclusive Movie & Series Premieres, Download & Watch Offline

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| VIP | $13.99 | per month |
| VIP Mobile | $13.99 | per month |
| VIP \| BigTime | $16.99 | per month |
| VIP \| Sports | $19.49 | per month |
| VIP \| Sports \| GOBX | $23.49 | per month |
| Ultimate | $24.49 | per month |
| VIP | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| VIP | $139.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great content
- 👍 Variety of shows and movies
- 💡 Useful for overseas users
- 🚀 App improvements over time

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent glitches and crashes
- ⚠️ Poor customer support
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Login and account issues

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues and unexpected charges
- Frequent log-out and login problems
- Streaming quality and video playback issues
- Compatibility problems with certain devices

**Requested features**

- Add option to reset watched progress
- Improve casting and TV connectivity
- Provide more English subtitles and language options
- Introduce user rating and review system
- Optimize app performance and reduce bugs


### START

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start/id1273218458)

This app offers a vast library of films, series, and cartoons from global studios, alongside exclusive original productions. Enjoy high-definition streaming, offline viewing, and bonus content with a single subscription, accessible across all your devices worldwide without any advertisements.

**Highlights:** Exclusive original series and films, Large library of movies, series, and cartoons, Single subscription for full catalog access, Offline viewing of downloaded content, Full HD 1080p quality, Ad-free viewing, Cross-device compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All inclusive | $7.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good customer support
- 🚀 High-quality content
- 💡 Variety of movies and shows

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Unauthorized charges and subscription issues
- 🤖 Poor app performance and user experience

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes and becomes unresponsive
- Playback issues and video quality problems
- Incorrect billing and subscription handling

**Requested features**

- Add English subtitles
- Improve content availability outside of Russia
- Allow easier subscription management and cancellation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MBC Shahid free?

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

### Is START free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MBC Shahid or START?

START is rated higher. MBC Shahid averages 3.0 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while START averages 3.8 from 194 ratings.

### Do MBC Shahid or START have ads?

Neither MBC Shahid nor START shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MBC Shahid or START?

MBC Shahid ships an update fortnightly, and START fortnightly. Most recently, MBC Shahid was updated on October 15, 2026 and START on October 15, 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.*