# Bow Tie Mobile App vs Optimum TV

The clearest difference is rating: Optimum TV at 4.6 against Bow Tie Mobile App's 4.2. Optimum TV also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 17 months) and ratings volume (26K vs 255). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Optimum TV holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Optimum TV has 26K ratings behind it against 255, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 9% of Bow Tie Mobile App's written reviews are positive against 23% of Optimum TV's.

Bow Tie Mobile App ships an update every 17 months, Optimum TV every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bow Tie Mobile App | Optimum TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (255 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bow-tie-mobile-app/id986218092/reviews) | **[4.6 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimum-tv/id1296704509/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 255 | **26K** |
| Positive reviews | 8.7% of reviews | **23.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 82 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Bow Tie Cinemas LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/986218091) | [Altice USA, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1296704508) |

## What reviewers say

### Bow Tie Mobile App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bow-tie-mobile-app/id986218092)

Easily find movie showtimes and purchase tickets directly from your iPhone. Get scannable barcodes for instant access and email confirmations.  Criterion Club members can log in to earn rewards.

**Highlights:** Find movie showtimes, Purchase tickets on-the-go, Browse by film title or theater, Scannable barcode ticket confirmation, Email confirmation with printable page, Criterion Club member login for credit

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Clean and minimalist design
- 👍 Easy ticket purchasing process
- 👍 Convenient movie time lookup
- 👍 Useful for marking favorite theaters
- 💡 Flexibility in booking options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App freezes on logo/splash screen
- 🐛 Frequent crashes on launch
- 🐛 Login failures and authentication issues
- 🐛 Images and movie posters fail to load
- 🐛 App becomes unresponsive during ticket booking

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes on logo screen and won't progress
- App crashes immediately upon launch
- Login credentials not recognized despite working on website
- App logs out user while actively using it
- Images and movie posters fail to load

**Requested features**

- Add digital membership card to Apple Wallet
- Save favorite cinema as default location
- Implement Apple Wallet support for tickets
- Add ability to link past ticket purchases for loyalty points
- Display loyalty points balance in app


### Optimum TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimum-tv/id1296704509)

Stream live television, On Demand content, and Cloud DVR recordings from anywhere within your home. Enjoy your favorite shows and networks on the go with internet access. The app allows you to manage recordings and even restart select programs.

**Highlights:** Stream Live TV, Watch On Demand content, Access Cloud DVR recordings, Watch TV to GO on the go, Resume watching on TV, Restart select shows

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient for watching on the go
- 👍 Remote control functionality
- 🚀 Works like a cable box on Apple TV

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🔌 Inconsistent video quality and buffering issues
- 🔍 Buggy and unintuitive interface
- 🤖 Poor customer support
- 🚫 Restricted to home network for live TV

**Reported bugs**

- Guide not loading properly when scrolling to future programs
- Inability to log in or change password through the app
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps or devices

**Requested features**

- Picture-in-picture support on mobile devices
- Ability to continue watching across app switches
- Improved channel guide navigation and search
- More device compatibility


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bow Tie Mobile App free?

Bow Tie Mobile App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Optimum TV free?

Optimum TV is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Bow Tie Mobile App or Optimum TV?

Optimum TV is rated higher. Bow Tie Mobile App averages 4.2 out of 5 from 255 ratings, while Optimum TV averages 4.6 from 26K ratings.

### Do Bow Tie Mobile App or Optimum TV have ads?

Neither Bow Tie Mobile App nor Optimum TV shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bow Tie Mobile App or Optimum TV?

Bow Tie Mobile App ships an update every 17 months, and Optimum TV every 3 months. Most recently, Bow Tie Mobile App was updated on November 6, 2026 and Optimum TV on November 11, 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.*