Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Atom vs Regal

Atom 4.9★ · Free to download 75
Winner Atom
Regal 4.6★ · Free to download 45

Atom is the better choice for general movie ticket purchasing due to its easier user experience and more reliable payment and login processes, despite some recent issues.

Full reviews: Atom · Regal

Atom generally offers a smoother experience for buying movie tickets, with many users praising its ease of use and flexibility for changes. Regal, while having a dedicated rewards program, suffers from significant login issues, payment failures, and app instability, making it less reliable for many users.

Head to head

Ease of Use & Functionality edge: AtomR1R2R3R5
Atom Atom is frequently praised for being easy to use, allowing users to buy tickets and change seats or dates with minimal hassle R2R5. However, some users report issues with incorrect movie times, theaters not displaying showtimes, and an increase in ads making the interface cluttered R1R3.
Regal Regal's app is described as straightforward when it works, but many users encounter significant problems with login, password resets, and general app responsiveness R68. Some find the UI outdated and unorganized, especially concerning reward points .
Reliability (Bugs & Performance) edge: AtomR4R7R12R13
Atom Atom users report issues with transactions getting stuck in 'pending' or being canceled, payment declines, and double charges R4. Login problems, including not receiving confirmation codes or existing accounts not being recognized, are also common R7R13. The app can also be unresponsive near theaters and has issues with trailers auto-playing R12.
Regal Regal's app is plagued by numerous bugs, including login failures, inability to reset passwords, and the app being slow or unresponsive R68. Some users cannot view purchased tickets or redeem points .
Price & Value (Fees, Deals, Rewards) tieR3R6R26R35
Atom Atom is appreciated for T-Mobile Tuesday deals and other savings R3R26R35. However, users frequently complain about high service fees R6.
Regal Regal has a rewards program and an Unlimited subscription pass, which are valued by users R63. However, the app often fails to upload points , track visits , or display the Unlimited membership R102. Users also complain about service fees for purchasing tickets through the app R83R85R91.
Customer Support edge: AtomR4R22R23R25
Atom Atom's customer support receives mixed reviews. Some users praise quick and helpful assistance R23, especially for cancellations and promo codes. However, many report issues with unresponsive bots, agents never appearing in chat, and difficulty resolving problems like refunds or login issues R4R22R25.
Regal Regal users consistently report poor customer service, with no live support, unresponsive email channels, and difficulty resolving issues like missing points or subscription problems R102.
Pick Atom if

you prioritize an easy and generally functional app for buying movie tickets, especially if you use T-Mobile Tuesday deals, and value flexibility for changing or refunding tickets R2R5.

Pick Regal if

you are a dedicated Regal customer and primarily need the app for basic showtime information, despite its significant login and reliability issues R83.

Evidence note: Both apps are free to download, so the free-vs-paid asymmetry rule does not apply. Atom's lifetime rating is higher, and recent reviews for Regal show a strong negative trend regarding app functionality and login issues, which aligns with its lower lifetime rating.

Frequently asked

Does Atom have service fees?
Yes, Atom charges service fees for ticket purchases, which some users find to be too high R6.
Can I use my Regal Crown Club card with Atom?
Some Atom users report difficulty adding their Regal Crown Club card to the Atom app, causing them to miss out on points R24.
Does Regal's app have booking fees?
Yes, Regal charges a service or booking fee for purchasing tickets through its app, which many users find unnecessary R83R85R91.
Can I reset my password in the Regal app?
Many users report significant issues with resetting their password directly within the Regal app, often finding the 'send' button unresponsive or not receiving the reset email R68R71R73R94.
Does the Regal app track my Unlimited membership?
Some Regal Unlimited subscribers report that the app does not display their membership or track their benefits, forcing them to use the website instead R63R102R117.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Atom 1/5 · US Check The Actual Theater For Movie Times: Will frequently just show you incorrect movie times. Was going to watch a movie at 7:00. That showtime then changed to 7:45. We checked again at 7:20 to make sure it was still showing, and the showtime disappeared. Figured the showing was cancelled, but out of curiosity I checked the AMC website. Turns out the movie actually did start at 7:00 and we missed
  2. [R2] Atom 5/5 · US So easy: This was so easy!
  3. [R3] Atom 3/5 · US Not always showing open theaters: I have used this app for T-Mobile Tuesday deals. I have noticed my local theater does not always Display showtimes. I can see show times on the theater website and Fandango. In my history I was able to use the EVO -Kyle Texas location. I have tried to restart the app/phone and go on a computer. Sometimes I am not able to use my code because it is not available on
  4. [R5] Atom 5/5 · US Great: Orders for tickets were easy!
  5. [R4] Atom 1/5 · US What happened to Atom: I have used Atom for years and have always loved it. Recently though they have become garbage. I try to purchase movie tickets and the transaction just sits “pending” for days until it’s finally just canceled. The generic email I get passed blame and says to try another card or something. I have multiple time, no difference. When I try to use their in-app chat it doesn’t kno
  6. [R7] Atom 1/5 · US Can’t login: I don’t go to the movies often but I assumed after buying a ticket it’d be easy to use. I spent multiple days trying to login before the film to make it easy, and it was anything but. Still couldn’t login day of the film so I skipped it. Hope it’s not a requirement and my emails enough! No point in using if I can’t even look at my tickets.
  7. [R12] Atom 3/5 · US Stop interrupting my music: The auto playing of trailers when I scroll the showtimes of a movie stops my music (spotify/apple music). Stop it. Stop stopping my music. It’s annoying.
  8. [R13] Atom 1/5 · US Garbage System: Codes only work in the app and not on the site? Already garbage. Can’t login because it needs a phone number. Type in my number and it says no, it’s associated with an account. Yeah. Mine. That I’m trying to log into. I’d rather die than use this app ever again.
  9. [R6] Atom 3/5 · US Service fee is way to high: I find the cost of service fees to be abhorrent.
  10. [R26] Atom 5/5 · US Flixster who?!!: No but fr I enjoy this app a lot better than the others. It’s super functional and always has some type of savings for you.
  11. [R35] Atom 5/5 · US I love when T-Mobile expands its rewards to include movie passes. This just made my day! ty: It is a good day to go to the movie!
  12. [R22] Atom 1/5 · US No Customer Service: I have two passes available in my profile, which are about to expire. However the app glitches and won’t apply the passes. When going to customer service, you get a bot, which eventually says an agent will be right with you. The agent never comes, even after an hour of waiting. There is no other way to resolve or contact anybody.
  13. [R23] Atom 5/5 · US Amazing customer support: I was new to the atom app and accidentally canceled my ticket that was discontinued because of my T-Mobile perks. They quickly helped and fixed my situation. Thank you
  14. [R25] Atom 1/5 · US Confusing: I had booked a ticket for today and it wasn’t showing and I tried to reach out to customer success and they never responded
  15. [R24] Atom 3/5 · US regal crown club card: i can’t add my regal crown club card i always miss out on points :/
  16. [R83] Regal 4/5 · US It’s fine, could be better: Functionality is fine, easy to find locations, movies and seats with all important information. As a Regal club member I am disappointed with the .50 user charge as I already pay a monthly fee. Some updates I would love to see: When I purchase a friend or family ticket using their regal club number , the ticket should show in their app as well. When purchasing a ticket
  17. [R85] Regal 2/5 · US Unnecessary Fees: They charge a service fee for purchasing tickets through the app. I’ll just buy my tickets at the theater.
  18. [R91] Regal 2/5 · US Booking Fees?: App is fine. Functions like any app should in 2026. But you’re charging me a booking fee to purchase tickets on your own platform? Come on.
  19. [R68] Regal 4/5 · US Password: Good app once your on. But I seem to have forgotten my password. Tried to reset it and you cannot do it from the app. Will not let you hit the send button for the link. Then I reset it and it is now telling me it’s wrong.
  20. [R71] Regal 4/5 · US Works good overall just not sometimes: App was working well until I got logged out and forgot to save my password (my fault ikkk) but when I was going to forgot password the app isn’t good! It’s too glitchy, when I try to put in my email so it can send it for the forgot password, I click send and doesn’t do anything…
  21. [R73] Regal 1/5 · US App used to work: The app used to work then stopped. Would get messages to the inbox, then they couldn’t be displayed. Logged out, can’t log back in. Deleted app and added back to my Home Screen and still can’t log in and now I can’t reset my password either. What a waste of my accumulated points also.
  22. [R94] Regal 2/5 · US App is buggy: With the latest update, I tried to reset my password. I selected the Forgot Password option, entered my email address, but the Submit button would not respond when I tapped it. It highlighted as if it was clickable, but nothing happened. The Cancel button worked normally. I also checked my email and never received a password reset email. I had to use the website instead. Disappointin
  23. [R63] Regal 3/5 · US Great app, but Regal Unlimited subscribers are left in the dark: Pretty great app, and I’ve used it for years! But once I upgraded to Regal Unlimited, the experience actually downgraded. The app completely strips away your gem status levels with no way to participate in them anymore. While there is a separate rewards program for Unlimited subscribers, the app doesn't reference it at all. As an Unl
  24. [R102] Regal 1/5 · US App doesn’t show my regal unlimited membership: App doesn’t show my regal unlimited membership I was able to purchase one ticket through the app without a problem when I went to go and pick another movie for a different day. It wasn’t showing my Regal Unlimited membership. There’s no live support for this app which is another thing and it runs extremely slow. You guys need to get a live person to
  25. [R117] Regal 1/5 · US Regal: Movie Tickets Made Difficult: The app doesn’t recognize my unlimited subscription anymore, so I am forced to order through the website and then I can’t even pull my tickets back up on the app. This is embarrassing and horrible service.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store