# CuriosityStream vs PLY Spinners Guild

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PLY Spinners Guild at 98% against CuriosityStream's 31%. PLY Spinners Guild also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). CuriosityStream's advantage is ratings volume (6.3K vs 44) and update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and PLY Spinners Guild sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PLY Spinners Guild holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CuriosityStream has 6.3K ratings behind it against 44, 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 98% of PLY Spinners Guild's.

CuriosityStream ships an update monthly, PLY Spinners Guild every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CuriosityStream | PLY Spinners Guild |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/curiositystream/id971830624/reviews) | **[4.9 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ply-spinners-guild/id6451114261/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.3K** | 44 |
| Positive reviews | 30.9% of reviews | **97.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 37 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CuriosityStream, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/971830623) | [PLY Publishing Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1696609634) |

## 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


### PLY Spinners Guild

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ply-spinners-guild/id6451114261)

This app provides a comprehensive fiber arts community with instructional videos and forums. Learn spinning techniques at your own pace with guidance from experts, covering everything from fiber prep to finishing. Connect with other spinners and participate in community events.

**Highlights:** Instructional videos, Expert guidance, Community forums, Regular spin-alongs, Access to past seasons

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PLY Spinners Guild Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| PLY Spinners Guild Yearly | $85.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Exceptional content and inspiration
- 👍 Great resource for spinners
- 👍 Informative and educational videos
- 👍 Warm and approachable teaching style
- 👍 Diverse group of teachers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App is minimal
- 🐛 Not full access compared to web
- 🐛 Forums not available on app
- 🐛 Teaching content video episodes limited
- 🐛 No useful help section

**Reported bugs**

- App is minimal with limited access compared to web version
- Forums and spin-in chat threads not available on the app
- Teaching content video episodes limited to a few from last year
- No useful help section
- App is bare bones and hard to navigate

**Requested features**

- Full access to all features on the app, including forums
- Availability of current teaching content updates on the app
- A useful help section
- Improved app navigation
- Fix earliest videos that are out of frame


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CuriosityStream free?

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

### Is PLY Spinners Guild free?

PLY Spinners Guild is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, CuriosityStream or PLY Spinners Guild?

PLY Spinners Guild is rated higher. CuriosityStream averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while PLY Spinners Guild averages 4.9 from 44 ratings.

### Do CuriosityStream or PLY Spinners Guild have ads?

Neither CuriosityStream nor PLY Spinners Guild shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CuriosityStream or PLY Spinners Guild?

CuriosityStream ships an update monthly, and PLY Spinners Guild every 6 months. Most recently, CuriosityStream was updated on October 20, 2026 and PLY Spinners Guild on October 15, 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.*