# CuriosityStream vs Discovery GO

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Discovery GO at none against CuriosityStream's 6. Discovery GO also leads on ratings volume (35K vs 6.3K). CuriosityStream's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CuriosityStream sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Discovery GO asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for CuriosityStream against 4.7 for Discovery GO. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Discovery GO has 35K ratings behind it against 6.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 31% of CuriosityStream's written reviews are positive against 37% of Discovery GO's.

CuriosityStream ships an update monthly, Discovery GO every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CuriosityStream | Discovery GO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/curiositystream/id971830624/reviews) | **[4.7 (35K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/discovery-go/id1039067950/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6.3K | **35K** |
| Positive reviews | 30.9% of reviews | **36.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 37 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [CuriosityStream, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/971830623) | [Discovery Communications](https://appshunter.io/developer/325058494) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Discovery GO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/discovery-go/id1039067950)

Stream your favorite Discovery shows and access content from up to 14 additional networks, including TLC and HGTV. Watch new episodes the same day they premiere on TV and enjoy thousands of episodes on demand. Requires a pay TV subscription to access.

**Highlights:** Stream live TV from multiple networks, Access thousands of on-demand episodes, Watch new episodes same day as TV premiere, Browse by genre, Continue watching across devices, Save shows with My List

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great content library
- 👍 Convenient on-the-go viewing
- 💡 Ability to catch up on missed shows

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 📺 Excessive and repetitive commercials
- 🔍 Difficulty resuming shows from where left off
- 🔌 Inconsistent performance and streaming quality

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently logs users out and requires re-authentication
- Certain shows/episodes are inexplicably locked or unavailable
- Playback issues when switching between devices or screens

**Requested features**

- Add skip/rewind functionality to bypass commercials
- Improve progress tracking and resume playback
- Provide an ad-free premium subscription option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CuriosityStream free?

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

### Is Discovery GO free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CuriosityStream or Discovery GO?

Discovery GO is rated higher. CuriosityStream averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while Discovery GO averages 4.7 from 35K ratings.

### Do CuriosityStream or Discovery GO have ads?

Discovery GO shows ads; CuriosityStream does not.

### Which is updated more often, CuriosityStream or Discovery GO?

CuriosityStream ships an update monthly, and Discovery GO every 6 weeks. Most recently, CuriosityStream was updated on October 26, 2026 and Discovery GO on October 27, 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.*