Comparison

CuriosityStream vs Digital Rain

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CuriosityStream

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
Read full description

CuriosityStream is the world’s leading documentary and non-fiction streaming service covering science, nature, history, biographies of real characters of consequence and pretty much anything else you can think of. Learn about our natural world alongside luminaries like Sir David Attenborough. Look at our universe with wonder as Michio Kaku and Brian Greene broaden your perspective on space, time and the future. Step back in time and explore dinosaurs, ancient history, and the rise of homo sapiens. Curiositystream also offers CuriosityKIDS, a dedicated collection of safe, entertaining and inspiring programs for families to enjoy together or for kids to watch on their own. Let CuriosityKids spark a love of learning and a passion for exploration. Plus, all CuriosityStream shows are downloadable so you can keep kids entertained while on the go. Whether your kids are budding astronomers, paleontologists, or historians, CuriosityStream has got you covered with award-winning, ad-free content. Join more than 20 million CuriosityStream subscribers and explore thousands of brain-boosting documentaries. CuriosityStream membership benefits: - Unlimited streaming of the best in documentary programming - Download shows so you can watch anytime, anywhere without an internet connection - 4K and HD documentaries available on multiple devices - New content added weekly so you’ll never run out of things to watch - Browse titles with multiple search tools to help you quickly find your favorite subject areas - Rate your favorite shows and get recommendations for related content - Bookmark shows to watch later or resume watching previously viewed shows on other devices You may cancel your membership and stop the billing anytime by logging into your account. Please Note: - Payment will be charged to the user's iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase -Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase By downloading this application, you agree to the CuriosityStream Terms of Use (https://curiositystream.com/terms) and Privacy Policy (https://curiositystream.com/privacy).

About

Digital Rain

Features
Read full description

Transform your device into a mesmerizing cascade of falling digital characters — the iconic green code-rain effect, reimagined. Digital Rain brings glowing streams of glyphs to iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV with stunning Metal-accelerated graphics and deep customization. FEATURES • Beautiful Metal-powered rain with silky-smooth 60+ fps animation • Multiple color themes: Classic Green, Ice Blue, Fire Red, Purple Haze, Gold, and more • Various glyph styles: Japanese Katakana, Latin alphabet, Binary, Hexadecimal, and Braille • Adjustable rain personality: Classic columns, Chaotic scatter, Gentle drift • Full control over speed, density, and brightness • Save your favorite combinations as default settings NIGHTSTAND MODE (iPhone/iPad) Turn your device into an elegant bedside clock with rain in the background. Nightstand Mode activates automatically when charging in landscape orientation — perfect for StandBy. The large, elegant clock adapts its color to your selected theme. LIVE WALLPAPER (iPhone) Export your customized rain effect as a Live Photo and set it as your Lock Screen wallpaper. Press and hold your Lock Screen to see the rain come alive. APPLE TV Enjoy the rain on your big screen with focus-driven Siri Remote controls. Perfect as ambient background or for relaxation. macOS Run Digital Rain as a standalone app with hover-to-reveal controls, or install it as a screensaver that uses your saved settings. TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE • Native Metal rendering for maximum performance • Adaptive frame rate in Low Power Mode to save battery • Persistent settings across launches • No ads, no tracking, no subscriptions Whether you're a cyberpunk enthusiast, need a relaxing visual focus, or just want something beautiful to look at, Digital Rain delivers a premium experience across all your Apple devices. DEMO VIDEO: A screen recording captured on a physical iPhone (iPhone 15 Pro Max, latest iOS) is attached in the Attachment field above. It begins at app launch and shows the typical flow — the live digital-rain animation, opening the customization panel (Speed, Density, Color, Glyph, Style, Brightness), and saving a Live Photo / Live Wallpaper.

Screenshots

CuriosityStream4 screens
Digital Rain3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: CuriosityStream at Free against Digital Rain's $0.99. CuriosityStream also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Digital Rain's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and chart position (#197 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

CuriosityStream is free to download; Digital Rain costs $0.99 up front. CuriosityStream sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Digital Rain asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
CuriosityStream versus Digital Rain: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCuriosityStreamDigital Rain
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.6 (6.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews30.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings6.3K — better—
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscription—
Best chart rank—#197 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TViPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB2 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperCuriosityStream, LLCMAXXSOFTWARE Inc.

Bugs and requests

CuriosityStream

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes on launch
  • Videos not resuming from last position
  • Casting issues and video playback problems
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps

Requested features

5 requests
  • Offline downloads
  • Profiles/multiple user support
  • Improved search and recommendation features
  • Better integration with TV platforms
  • Customizable playback controls

Digital Rain

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

CuriosityStream

Subscriptions6
  • Basic$5.991 Month
  • Standard$5.991 Month
  • Smart Bundle$11.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Basic$49.991 Year
  • Standard$49.991 Year
  • Smart Bundle$79.991 Year
None

Digital Rain

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CuriosityStream free?
CuriosityStream is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Digital Rain free?
Digital Rain costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do CuriosityStream or Digital Rain have ads?
Neither CuriosityStream nor Digital Rain shows ads.

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