Software · head to head
Criterion Channel vs Transistor.fm

Transistor.fm
Software
The podcast host built for professional broadcasters
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Criterion Channel maximum streaming quality is HD, no 4K or Ultra HD; Transistor.fm monthly download caps vary by tier
- They diverge on capability: Criterion Channel covers Criterion films, Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Criterion Channel and Transistor.fm actually diverge.
| Attribute | Criterion Channel | Transistor.fm |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $10.99/month | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 1984 | 2016 |
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 Criterion Channel
- Criterion films
- 4K restoration
- Essays
- Special features
- Curated selections
- Smart TVs
- Streaming devices
- Account security
Only in Transistor.fm
- Unlimited episodes
- Automatic transcription
- Advanced analytics
- Custom player
- Email newsletters
- White-label options
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Criterion Channel
- Streaming classic, foreign, and independent films with curated collections and retrospectivesnot Transistor.fm
- Watching filmmaker interviews, commentary tracks, and bonus/supplemental contentnot Transistor.fm
- Following themed programming such as double features and director/actor spotlightsnot Transistor.fm
- Educational and film-study use due to curated context and extrasnot Transistor.fm
Transistor.fm
- Podcast hosting and distributionnot Criterion Channel
- Video podcast publishingnot Criterion Channel
- AI transcriptionnot Criterion Channel
- Dynamic ad insertionnot Criterion Channel
- Private podcast networksnot Criterion Channel
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Transistor.fm
- Monthly download caps vary by tier
- Private subscriber limits increase with higher-tier plans
- Enterprise plan required for 250K+ downloads monthly
Pricing, plan by plan
Criterion Channel
$10.99/month- Monthly$10.99/month
- Annual$99.99/year
Transistor.fm
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Transistor.fm review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Transistor.fm if
- You need unlimited episodes.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want automatic transcription.
Questions people ask
- Is Criterion Channel or Transistor.fm better?
- Neither clearly leads. Criterion Channel starts at $10.99/month and Transistor.fm at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Criterion Channel or Transistor.fm?
- Criterion Channel starts at $10.99/month and Transistor.fm at On request.
- Does Criterion Channel or Transistor.fm run on more platforms?
- Criterion Channel runs on Web, Android, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox. Transistor.fm runs on Web, Mobile.
- What is Criterion Channel best used for?
- Criterion Channel is most often used for streaming classic, foreign, and independent films with curated collections and retrospectives, watching filmmaker interviews, commentary tracks, and bonus/supplemental content, following themed programming such as double features and director/actor spotlights, educational and film-study use due to curated context and extras. Of those, streaming classic, foreign, and independent films with curated collections and retrospectives and watching filmmaker interviews, commentary tracks, and bonus/supplemental content are not what Transistor.fm is typically brought in for.
- What can Criterion Channel do that Transistor.fm cannot?
- Criterion Channel covers Criterion films, 4K restoration, Essays, Special features. Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes, Automatic transcription, Advanced analytics, Custom player. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android 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.
SourceCriterion 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.
SourceCriterion 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.
SourceCriterion 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Criterion Channel
More on Transistor.fm
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- Criterion Channel vs Overcast
- Criterion Channel vs Castbox
- Criterion Channel vs Castro
- Criterion Channel vs Apple TV+
- Criterion Channel vs Emby
- Criterion Channel vs Hulu
- Criterion Channel vs Jellyfin
- Criterion Channel vs Kodi
- Criterion Channel vs MUBI
- Criterion Channel vs Audible
- Criterion Channel vs BritBox
- Criterion Channel vs Crunchyroll
- Criterion Channel vs Dailymotion
- Criterion Channel vs Discovery+
- Criterion Channel vs Disney+
- Criterion Channel vs ESPN+
- Criterion Channel vs HBO Max
- Criterion Channel vs IMDb TV (Freevee)
- Criterion Channel vs Pocketcasts
- Criterion Channel vs Buzzsprout
- Criterion Channel vs Adobe Podcast
- Criterion Channel vs Apple Podcasts Connect
- Criterion Channel vs Libsyn
- Criterion Channel vs Patreon
- Criterion Channel vs Podbean
- Criterion Channel vs Transistor
- Criterion Channel vs Acast
- Criterion Channel vs Alitu
- Criterion Channel vs Audioboom
- Criterion Channel vs Auphonic
- Criterion Channel vs Blubrry
- Criterion Channel vs Captivate
- Criterion Channel vs Castmagic
- Criterion Channel vs Castos
- Criterion Channel vs Chartable
- Criterion Channel vs Cleanfeed
- Transistor.fm vs Overcast
- Transistor.fm vs Castbox
- Transistor.fm vs Castro
- Transistor.fm vs Apple TV+
- Transistor.fm vs Emby
- Transistor.fm vs Hulu
- Transistor.fm vs Jellyfin
- Transistor.fm vs Kodi
- Transistor.fm vs MUBI
- Transistor.fm vs Audible
- Transistor.fm vs BritBox
- Transistor.fm vs Crunchyroll
- Transistor.fm vs Dailymotion
- Transistor.fm vs Discovery+
- Transistor.fm vs Disney+
- Transistor.fm vs ESPN+
- Transistor.fm vs HBO Max
- Transistor.fm vs IMDb TV (Freevee)
- Transistor.fm vs Pocketcasts
- Transistor.fm vs Buzzsprout
- Transistor.fm vs Adobe Podcast
- Transistor.fm vs Apple Podcasts Connect
- Transistor.fm vs Libsyn
- Transistor.fm vs Patreon
- Transistor.fm vs Podbean
- Transistor.fm vs Transistor
- Transistor.fm vs Acast
- Transistor.fm vs Alitu
- Transistor.fm vs Audioboom
- Transistor.fm vs Auphonic
- Transistor.fm vs Blubrry
- Transistor.fm vs Captivate
- Transistor.fm vs Castmagic
- Transistor.fm vs Castos
- Transistor.fm vs Chartable
- Transistor.fm vs Cleanfeed

