# CuriosityStream vs BBC America

The clearest difference is rating: CuriosityStream at 4.6 against BBC America's 1.8. CuriosityStream also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (31% vs 5%). BBC America's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

CuriosityStream holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CuriosityStream has 6.3K ratings behind it against 589, 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 5% of BBC America's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CuriosityStream | BBC America |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/curiositystream/id971830624/reviews)** | [1.8 (589 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbc-america/id1089249069/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.3K** | 589 |
| Positive reviews | **30.9% of reviews** | 5.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 37 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [CuriosityStream, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/971830623) | [BBC America](https://appshunter.io/developer/1089249068) |

## 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


### BBC America

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bbc-america/id1089249069)

Stream full episodes of popular BBC America series like Killing Eve and Top Gear. Access video extras, sneak peeks, and live TV with your cable provider login. Resume watching where you left off.

**Highlights:** Full episode streaming, Video extras and sneak peeks, Live TV streaming, Cable/satellite provider login, Resume watching, Searchable library, Airplay/casting support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Great app for watching shows
- 🚀 Streams in high quality
- 👍 Straightforward and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🤯 Frustrating navigation and controls
- 💸 Too many ads and interruptions
- 🤔 Inconsistent content availability

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and sign-in problems
- Playback freezes and restarts randomly
- Closed captions not working as expected
- Casting and mirroring features broken

**Requested features**

- Add search and browse functionality
- Improve rewind/fast-forward controls
- Provide a paid ad-free subscription option
- Sync playback progress across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CuriosityStream free?

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

### Is BBC America free?

BBC America is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CuriosityStream or BBC America?

CuriosityStream is rated higher. CuriosityStream averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while BBC America averages 1.8 from 589 ratings.

### Do CuriosityStream or BBC America have ads?

BBC America shows ads; CuriosityStream does not.

### Which is updated more often, CuriosityStream or BBC America?

CuriosityStream ships an update monthly, and BBC America monthly. Most recently, CuriosityStream was updated on October 26, 2026 and BBC America on October 21, 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.*