# ARD Sounds vs HD+

The clearest difference is rating: ARD Sounds at 4.6 against HD+'s 4.0. ARD Sounds also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (362 vs 1). HD+'s advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ARD Sounds holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ARD Sounds has 362 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of ARD Sounds's written reviews are positive against 70% of HD+'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARD Sounds | HD+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (362 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ard-sounds/id1224607890/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hd-plus/id1574355932/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **362** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.3% of reviews | **70.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 276 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Sudwestrundfunk, Anstalt des offentlichen Rechts](https://appshunter.io/developer/610313722) | [HD PLUS GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/427973052) |

## What reviewers say

### ARD Sounds

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ard-sounds/id1224607890)

Discover a world of audio content with this free app, offering exclusive podcasts, captivating audio dramas, free audiobooks, and live radio. Enjoy news, sports, and a wide range of genres for entertainment and information on the go.

**Highlights:** Exclusive ARD podcasts, Free audiobooks and dramas, Live radio streaming, News and live sports updates, Offline listening, Custom playlists and watchlists, Cross-device synchronization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### HD+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hd-plus/id1574355932)

Stream over 100 HD channels live and access extensive media libraries on your smartphone or tablet. Restart missed program beginnings and personalize your TV guide with custom lists. Enjoy TV anywhere, anytime, with features like a powerful search and reminders.

**Highlights:** Stream over 100 HD channels live, Access extensive media libraries, Restart missed program beginnings, Create custom sender lists, Powerful search function, Merkliste & Erinnerungsfunktion, Dark/Light mode customization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARD Sounds free?

ARD Sounds is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HD+ free?

HD+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ARD Sounds or HD+?

ARD Sounds is rated higher. ARD Sounds averages 4.6 out of 5 from 362 ratings, while HD+ averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do ARD Sounds or HD+ have ads?

Neither ARD Sounds nor HD+ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ARD Sounds or HD+?

ARD Sounds ships an update every 3 weeks, and HD+ every 3 weeks. Most recently, ARD Sounds was updated on October 18, 2026 and HD+ on October 20, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*