# CuriosityStream vs HISTORY Vault

The clearest difference is rating: CuriosityStream at 4.6 against HISTORY Vault's 3.9. CuriosityStream also leads on ratings volume (6.3K vs 1.1K) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). HISTORY Vault's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

CuriosityStream holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CuriosityStream has 6.3K ratings behind it against 1.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of CuriosityStream's written reviews are positive against 29% of HISTORY Vault's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CuriosityStream | HISTORY Vault |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/curiositystream/id971830624/reviews)** | [3.9 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/history-vault/id1076619087/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.3K** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | **30.7% of reviews** | 29.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 44 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [CuriosityStream, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/971830623) | [A+E Global Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/366448555) |

## 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


### HISTORY Vault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/history-vault/id1076619087)

Explore thousands of documentaries and specials about history, from ancient times to modern conflicts. Watch full-length, commercial-free videos on demand, with new content added weekly. Access classic series and discover the events and people that shaped our world.

**Highlights:** Thousands of documentaries and specials, Commercial-free viewing, New videos added weekly, Classic HISTORY Channel series, No TV provider needed, On-demand streaming

**Features:** Vision Pro support, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| History Vault | $5.99 | per month |
| History Vault | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great content
- 🚀 Interesting documentaries
- 👍 Variety of historical topics
- 👍 Reasonable subscription price

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
- 🐛 Streaming and downloading issues
- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience across devices
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🔒 Billing and account issues

**Reported bugs**

- Login and password reset problems
- Incompatibility with certain devices
- Inconsistent content availability

**Requested features**

- Add more recent and popular shows
- Improve search and navigation
- Implement resume playback and favorites
- Add Chromecast/casting support
- Provide multi-language options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CuriosityStream free?

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

### Is HISTORY Vault free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CuriosityStream or HISTORY Vault?

CuriosityStream is rated higher. CuriosityStream averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while HISTORY Vault averages 3.9 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do CuriosityStream or HISTORY Vault have ads?

Neither CuriosityStream nor HISTORY Vault shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CuriosityStream or HISTORY Vault?

CuriosityStream ships an update monthly, and HISTORY Vault monthly. Most recently, CuriosityStream was updated on September 22, 2026 and HISTORY Vault on September 20, 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.*