# ARD Sounds vs CampfireFM

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ARD Sounds at none against CampfireFM's 9. ARD Sounds also leads on ratings volume (348 vs 3) and review sentiment (70% vs 54%). CampfireFM's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CampfireFM sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. ARD Sounds asks for nothing beyond the download.

CampfireFM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ARD Sounds has 348 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of ARD Sounds's written reviews are positive against 54% of CampfireFM's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ARD Sounds ships an update every 3 weeks, CampfireFM every 10 days. Both last shipped on September 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARD Sounds | CampfireFM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (348 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ard-sounds/id1224607890/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/campfirefm/id1673471223/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **348** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **70.1% of reviews** | 54.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 272 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Sudwestrundfunk, Anstalt des offentlichen Rechts](https://appshunter.io/developer/610313722) | [CampfireFM GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673471225) |

## 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


### CampfireFM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/campfirefm/id1673471223)

Experience podcasts together with a community and hosts. Access bonus content like photos and links directly within episodes. Engage with hosts through voice messages and comments between episodes.

**Highlights:** Listen and discuss podcasts together, Bonus content linked to episodes, Host interaction via voice messages and comments, Community discussions, Direct host engagement

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dark Secrets Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Campfire Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Peter und der Wald Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| Machtwechsel Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Hilial - All Episodes | $3.99 | one-time |
| Der Untergang der Sea Story | $4.99 | one-time |
| Spiegel Investigativ - All Episodes | $4.99 | one-time |
| The UFF! World Cup Special | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARD Sounds free?

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

### Is CampfireFM free?

CampfireFM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ARD Sounds or CampfireFM?

CampfireFM is rated higher. ARD Sounds averages 4.7 out of 5 from 348 ratings, while CampfireFM averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do ARD Sounds or CampfireFM have ads?

Neither ARD Sounds nor CampfireFM shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ARD Sounds or CampfireFM?

ARD Sounds ships an update every 3 weeks, and CampfireFM every 10 days. Most recently, ARD Sounds was updated on September 27, 2026 and CampfireFM on September 27, 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.*