# RTL RADIO vs ZDF

The clearest difference is ratings volume: ZDF at 9.8K against RTL RADIO's 107. ZDF also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 48%). RTL RADIO's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for RTL RADIO against 4.7 for ZDF. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZDF has 9.8K ratings behind it against 107, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 48% of RTL RADIO's written reviews are positive against 67% of ZDF's.

RTL RADIO ships an update every 3 weeks, ZDF monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RTL RADIO | ZDF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (107 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtl-radio/id315483246/reviews)** | [4.7 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zdf/id437025413/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 107 | **9.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 48.4% of reviews | **67.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 45 MB | 101 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [RTL Audio Center Berlin GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/319042724) | [ZDF](https://appshunter.io/developer/437025416) |

## What reviewers say

### RTL RADIO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtl-radio/id315483246)

Listen to Germany's top hit radio station live, anytime, anywhere. Access the latest music and news through your mobile device or Apple TV, even with the screen off. Enjoy a free streaming experience with this popular radio player.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, Latest hits and news, Mobile and Apple TV support, Background playback, Free to use

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### ZDF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zdf/id437025413)

Access a vast library of on-demand series, documentaries, and films. Stream live TV, download content for offline viewing, and discover exclusive pre-broadcast programs. Personalize your experience with a watchlist and notifications.

**Highlights:** On-demand streaming of series and documentaries, Offline viewing by downloading content, Access to content before TV broadcast, Live TV and livestreams of events, Curated content from public broadcasters, Personalized watchlist and notifications

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌍 Access to German TV content abroad
- 🎥 Wide variety of programs (movies, series, news, documentaries)
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🇩🇪 Allows keeping up with German language and culture

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Many programs geo-blocked and not available outside Germany/Austria/Switzerland
- 🐛 Occasional crashes, bugs, and playback issues
- 🔇 Lack of subtitles/closed captions
- 🔄 Difficulty resuming previously watched content

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes or failure to open videos
- Playback issues like audio-video desync, videos freezing or going black
- Sync issues between devices, inability to resume watching

**Requested features**

- Offline viewing/download options
- Personalized recommendations and watchlists
- Improved Chromecast/AirPlay support
- Compatibility with older devices/iOS versions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RTL RADIO free?

RTL RADIO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ZDF free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RTL RADIO or ZDF?

RTL RADIO is rated higher. RTL RADIO averages 4.8 out of 5 from 107 ratings, while ZDF averages 4.7 from 9.8K ratings.

### Do RTL RADIO or ZDF have ads?

Neither RTL RADIO nor ZDF shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RTL RADIO or ZDF?

RTL RADIO ships an update every 3 weeks, and ZDF monthly. Most recently, RTL RADIO was updated on October 23, 2026 and ZDF on October 30, 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.*