# CuriosityStream vs Lion Mountain

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Lion Mountain at 12.0 against CuriosityStream's 15.1. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CuriosityStream sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Lion Mountain sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CuriosityStream | Lion Mountain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/curiositystream/id971830624/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **6.3K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 30.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 37 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [CuriosityStream, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/971830623) | [Lion Mountain Media Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1458893163) |

## 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


### Lion Mountain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lion-mountain/id1458893164)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lion Mountain Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Lion Mountain Subscription | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CuriosityStream free?

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

### Is Lion Mountain free?

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

### Do CuriosityStream or Lion Mountain have ads?

Neither CuriosityStream nor Lion Mountain shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CuriosityStream or Lion Mountain?

CuriosityStream ships an update monthly, and Lion Mountain monthly. Most recently, CuriosityStream was updated on October 20, 2026 and Lion Mountain on October 12, 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.*