Crave
Bell Media
Introducing Crave
Stream HBO, SHOWTIME, movies, and Canadian TV with on-demand and live content.
Crave is Canada's premium streaming service offering HBO, SHOWTIME, Hollywood blockbusters, and the best Canadian television. Watch current HBO series like The Last of Us and Succession, plus the complete HBO library. Access SHOWTIME originals, thousands of movies, and exclusive Canadian content. Stream live and on-demand content with no commercials. Download shows and movies for offline viewing. Create up to 5 profiles with parental controls. Watch simultaneously on two devices. Crave offers more Emmy Award-winning programming than any other Canadian streaming service. Available in Crave Mobile, Crave or Crave + Movies + HBO packages.
Key Features
- Complete HBO and SHOWTIME libraries
- Thousands of Hollywood movies
- Exclusive Canadian content
- Download for offline viewing
- Up to 5 user profiles
- No commercials on streaming
Pros & Cons
What We Like
- •Best selection of premium content in Canada
- •HBO originals streaming same time as US
- •Good selection of movies
- •Offline downloads work well
- •Multiple profiles with parental controls
Areas for Improvement
- •Only available in Canada
- •App can be buggy with frequent crashes
- •More expensive than competitors
Performance & Reliability
Crave app streaming quality is generally good with adaptive HD quality. However, the app suffers from stability issues with crashes and freezing reported frequently. Live stream buffering occurs more often than competitors. Downloaded content plays smoothly offline. Search and browsing can be slow. Resume playback usually works but occasionally loses position.
User Experience
The interface has improved but still feels less polished than Netflix or Disney+. Content discovery is organized by categories and featured collections. Profile switching is straightforward. The video player offers standard controls with subtitle options. Navigation can feel cluttered. The app requires regular updates to fix bugs.
Security & Privacy
Crave uses encrypted streaming and secure account authentication. Subscription payment is processed securely through Bell Media or app store billing. Content is DRM-protected. Parental controls allow content restriction by rating. The app requires minimal permissions appropriate for streaming.
Our Verdict
Crave is essential for Canadians who want premium HBO and SHOWTIME content legally. The exclusive access to current HBO series and comprehensive movie library justify the cost for premium TV fans. However, the app's technical issues and stability problems are frustrating. While the content selection is excellent, the user experience needs improvement to match competitors. Worthwhile for the content despite the app's shortcomings.
