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BritBox vs Criterion Channel

BritBox logo

BritBox

Software

British television and entertainment

From
$6.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Criterion Channel logo

Criterion Channel

Software

Criterion Collection curated films

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: BritBox britBox offered a free 7-day trial, then billed at $6.99/month or $69.99/year (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2022); Criterion Channel maximum streaming quality is HD, no 4K or Ultra HD
  • They diverge on capability: BritBox covers British content, Criterion Channel covers Criterion films.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BritBox and Criterion Channel actually diverge.

Attributes where BritBox and Criterion Channel differ
AttributeBritBoxCriterion Channel
Starting price$6.99/month$10.99/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, RokuWeb, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox
Founded20171984

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in BritBox

  • British content
  • Dramas
  • Comedies
  • Documentaries
  • Exclusive content
  • Profile management

Only in Criterion Channel

  • Criterion films
  • 4K restoration
  • Essays
  • Special features
  • Curated selections
  • Content access

Both cover

  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Smart-tv support
  • Roku support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

BritBox

  • British content streamingnot Criterion Channel
  • Drama watchingnot Criterion Channel

Criterion Channel

  • Streaming classic, foreign, and independent films with curated collections and retrospectivesnot BritBox
  • Watching filmmaker interviews, commentary tracks, and bonus/supplemental contentnot BritBox
  • Following themed programming such as double features and director/actor spotlightsnot BritBox
  • Educational and film-study use due to curated context and extrasnot BritBox

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

BritBox

  • BritBox offered a free 7-day trial, then billed at $6.99/month or $69.99/year (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2022)

Criterion Channel

  • Maximum streaming quality is HD, no 4K or Ultra HD
  • No PlayStation 4 app available
  • HDCP compatibility issues reported on some devices like Chromebooks and Xbox One
  • No live chat or phone support for customer service
  • Limited library compared to mainstream services like Netflix and Hulu

Pricing, plan by plan

BritBox

$6.99/month
  • Standard$6.99/month
    • HD
    • 1 device
  • Premium$9.99/month
    • Full HD
    • 4 devices

Criterion Channel

$10.99/month
  • Monthly$10.99/month
  • Annual$99.99/year

Which should you pick?

Choose BritBox if

  • You need british content.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku.
  • You also want dramas.
BritBox review

Choose Criterion Channel if

  • You need criterion films.
  • You work on Web, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox.
  • You also want 4k restoration.
Criterion Channel review

Questions people ask

Is BritBox or Criterion Channel better?
Neither clearly leads. BritBox starts at $6.99/month and Criterion Channel at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BritBox or Criterion Channel?
BritBox starts at $6.99/month and Criterion Channel at $10.99/month.
Does BritBox or Criterion Channel run on more platforms?
BritBox runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku. Criterion Channel runs on Web, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox.
What is BritBox best used for?
BritBox is most often used for british content streaming, drama watching. Of those, british content streaming and drama watching are not what Criterion Channel is typically brought in for.
What can BritBox do that Criterion Channel cannot?
BritBox covers British content, Dramas, Comedies, Documentaries. Criterion Channel covers Criterion films, 4K restoration, Essays, Special features. Both handle Smart TVs, Streaming devices, Account security, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Criterion Channel: Can I watch Criterion Channel offline?

No, Criterion Channel requires an active internet connection for streaming. The service does not offer offline viewing or download capabilities.

Source
Criterion Channel: What devices does Criterion Channel work on?

Criterion Channel works on Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, and Xbox. There is no PlayStation app or dedicated mobile app for iOS/Android.

Source
Criterion Channel: How much does Criterion Channel cost?

Criterion Channel costs $10.99/month or $99.99/year with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers.

Source
Criterion Channel: What is the maximum video quality on Criterion Channel?

Criterion Channel streams in HD quality only. The service does not offer 4K or Ultra HD resolution.

Source
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