Crave allows you to watch TV and movies from HBO, HBO Max, Showtime and more. It was also one of the first streaming platforms to offer integration with cable providers, making it super easy to subscribe and watch.
Users have their choice of subscription tiers that determine video streaming quality, downloading capabilities, and live channel access. These tiers and add-ons can get quite pricey when compared to those of other streaming services, but the unique content is often worth the cost.
Crave features
Here’s a quick overview of the features that you’ll get with a Crave subscription:
- Extensive entertainment library
- Offline viewing (with a Premium subscription)
- Bilingual interface and support options
- Live channels
- Parental controls
- Be 18 years or older
Crave product rating: 3.4 stars
Cravehas a lot going for it, but what really sets it apart from the competition is its exclusive partnerships with HBO and HBO Max. This includes blockbuster shows like Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, and The Sopranos – content that you won't find anywhere else in Canada.
Having access to these shows comes at a steep price, though. And if you decide to save some pennies by going with the Basic teir, you'll be watching a lot of ads.
Rating methodology
To calculate our Genius Ratings, we compare the features of the account or product in question with other similar products in Canada. We give each feature a score out of 5 based on that comparison. Once we’ve rated all the features, we run them through our proprietary algorithm to produce a final rating out of 5.
Learn more about our rating methodology.
The pros of Crave
This TV subscription has a few notable benefits, including these:
Extensive entertainment library
Crave packages a wide variety of content into its subscription, giving you great value. This includes thousands of hours of original movies and TV shows from HBO, HBO Max, Showtime, and some excellent Crave originals. You can watch STARZ programming too, for an extra fee. Although you won't find live sports, there is sports-centred content, including documentaries.
Canadian content
The library of Canadian content is impressive. Whether you're looking for content featuring Canadian stars, slapstick comedies about rural Canadian life, Quebec-based programming, or stories featuring Indigenous life and characters, you'll find it on Crave.
French language content
Part of the Canadian content includes French language programming too. This includes sitcoms, documentaries, game shows, reality tv, dramas, and more, all filmed in the French language – no subtitles needed.
Bilingual display options
Another distinctly Canadian feature that Crave offers is the ability to change your user interface from English to French, or vice versa. Each profile associated with your account can change this setting, in fact, so everyone can browse in their preferred language. It's a very nice touch.
The cons of Crave
These are a few details to keep in mind when considering a Crave subscription:
Lots of ads
A common complaint from users is that Crave has a lot of ads. Plus, the same ads seem to repeat themselves throughout the same program, which can make them even more annoying. Unfortunately, only one of the pricing tiers ( the most expensive one) offers ad-free streaming.
Prices are high
Put simply, Crave isn't cheap. Your most economical choice is to pay annually for a Basic subscription, which works out to $8.32/month. This is higher than Netflix's Standard-with-ads plan ($18.99/month), and doesn't offer nearly as many features and perks as Amazon Prime Video does for just $14.99/month.
Crave alternatives
Unsure if Crave is right for you? Check out some possible alternatives:
| Account | Netflix | Amazon Prime Video | Disney+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genius Rating | |||
| Why You Want It | Access a huge selection of entertainment + Set up multiple profiles. | Access original content and news + Get free shipping and Amazon Music. | Get exclusive access to Disney, Marvel, and more + Stream on 4 screens. |
| Min Monthly Fee | $7.99 | $4.99 | $8.99 |
| Max Monthly Fee | $23.99 | $9.99 | $15.99 |
| Ads In Min Monthly Fee | |||
| Watch On Smart TVs | |||
| Watch On Phones/Tablets | |||
Show More | |||
| Apply Now See more Netflix products Compare | Learn More See more Amazon products Compare | Learn More See more Disney products Compare |
FAQ
What shows are on Crave?
Crave offers programming from HBO, HBO Max, Showtime, STARZ, and more. Some of its top shows include Succession, Shoresy, and Nurse Jackie. You'll also find old favourites like Friends, Sex and the City, and The Sopranos.
What devices does Crave support?
You can use a wide variety of devices to watch Crave. This includes (but isn't limited to) a long list of smart TVs, gaming consoles like Sony PlayStation and Xbox, and other devices like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast.
Which Crave subscription tier should I choose?
The Crave Premium subscription is ideal for families and those who don't want to watch ads. The Standard option is a bit more economical and still offers high quality streaming, but the Basic tier is the best for frugal watchers.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone, and is not endorsed or sponsored by a bank, credit card issuer, rewards program or other entity. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website.
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