# Tastemade vs CuriosityStream

The clearest difference is monetization model: Tastemade at free with in-app purchases against CuriosityStream's subscription. Tastemade also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 31%). CuriosityStream's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tastemade sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and CuriosityStream sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Tastemade against 4.6 for CuriosityStream. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.7K and 6.3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Tastemade's written reviews are positive against 31% of CuriosityStream's.

Tastemade ships an update every 3 months, CuriosityStream monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tastemade | CuriosityStream |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (7.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tastemade-stream-shows-and-docs/id971197898/reviews) | [4.6 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/curiositystream/id971830624/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.7K** | 6.3K |
| Positive reviews | **50.2% of reviews** | 30.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 70 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Tastemade, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/635281034) | [CuriosityStream, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/971830623) |

## What reviewers say

### Tastemade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tastemade-stream-shows-and-docs/id971197898)

Stream award-winning food, travel, and home design shows. Explore a vast library of content, from cooking tutorials to travel documentaries. Enjoy free streaming or opt for an ad-free, on-demand experience with a premium membership.

**Highlights:** Award-winning food, travel, home shows, Over 1,000 hours of content, Ad-free streaming option, On-demand viewing, Save favorite shows, Cross-platform access

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tastemade+ Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Tastemade+ Annual | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy to use
- 👍 Great variety of recipes
- 🎨 Visually appealing videos
- 🍴 Delicious and easy-to-make dishes
- 🤩 Entertaining presenters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paywall for many features
- 📋 Lack of written recipes
- 🔍 Poor search and navigation
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Expensive subscription

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Login issues
- Inconsistent video playback
- Saved recipes disappearing

**Requested features**

- Add written recipes alongside videos
- Improve search functionality
- Allow saving unlimited recipes
- Provide more free content
- Fix stability issues


### CuriosityStream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/curiositystream/id971830624)

Access a vast library of award-winning documentaries and non-fiction content covering science, nature, history, and biographies. Enjoy ad-free streaming and offline viewing for all ages, including a dedicated kids' section.

**Highlights:** Unlimited documentary streaming, Offline viewing with downloads, 4K and HD content, New content added weekly, CuriosityKIDS section, Ad-free experience

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic | $5.99 | per month |
| Standard | $5.99 | per month |
| Smart Bundle | $11.99 | per month |
| Basic | $49.99 | per year |
| Standard | $49.99 | per year |
| Smart Bundle | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great content
- 💡 Excellent value for money
- 👍 Diverse range of documentaries
- 👍 Informative and educational

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
- 🐛 Streaming issues and buffering problems
- 🐛 Poor user interface and navigation
- 🐛 Chromecast/casting support issues
- 🐛 Inconsistent playback controls

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Videos not resuming from last position
- Casting issues and video playback problems
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps

**Requested features**

- Offline downloads
- Profiles/multiple user support
- Improved search and recommendation features
- Better integration with TV platforms
- Customizable playback controls


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tastemade free?

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

### Is CuriosityStream free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Tastemade or CuriosityStream?

Tastemade and CuriosityStream are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 7.7K and 6.3K ratings respectively.

### Do Tastemade or CuriosityStream have ads?

Tastemade shows ads; CuriosityStream does not.

### Which is updated more often, Tastemade or CuriosityStream?

Tastemade ships an update every 3 months, and CuriosityStream monthly. Most recently, Tastemade was updated on September 25, 2026 and CuriosityStream on September 22, 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.*