# NFB Films vs ARTE.tv

The clearest difference is rating: ARTE.tv at 4.5 against NFB Films's 4.0. ARTE.tv also leads on ratings volume (393 vs 8) and review sentiment (61% vs 41%). NFB Films's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

ARTE.tv holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ARTE.tv has 393 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of NFB Films's written reviews are positive against 61% of ARTE.tv's.

NFB Films ships an update every 3 weeks, ARTE.tv every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NFB Films | ARTE.tv |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfb-films/id378813687/reviews) | **[4.5 (393 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artetv/id405028510/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **393** |
| Positive reviews | 41.0% of reviews | **61.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 36 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [National Film Board of Canada – Office national du film du Canada](https://appshunter.io/developer/329353641) | [ARTE.TV](https://appshunter.io/developer/379981515) |

## What reviewers say

### NFB Films

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfb-films/id378813687)

Explore a vast library of Canadian films, including award-winning documentaries, animations, and Indigenous productions. Stream content in English or French, with options for offline viewing and personalized recommendations. Discover cinematic classics and new releases without any subscription fees or ads.

**Highlights:** Thousands of Canadian films, Award-winning works, Indigenous-made films, Documentaries and animation, English and French content, Offline viewing, Personalized recommendations

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Extensive free library of films and documentaries
- 🎨 High-quality diverse content including animations
- 📱 Works well on multiple devices (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV)
- 💾 Offline download capability for 48-hour viewing
- ❤️ Favorites/bookmarking feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and instability
- ⚪ Blank/white screen issues
- ⏸️ Freezing when paused for extended periods
- 🔄 Syncing issues between devices
- 🎬 Limited film selection on some platforms (e.g., Apple TV)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or during playback
- Blank white screen on startup
- Freezing after pausing for several minutes
- Video plays without audio or audio without video
- Offline downloads lost upon app restart

**Requested features**

- Chromecast support
- Language selection for audio tracks
- Watch later/queue list feature
- Cross-device favorites synchronization
- User account login system


### ARTE.tv

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artetv/id405028510)

Access a vast library of documentaries, reports, magazine shows, and concerts from ARTE. Stream content on demand, download for offline viewing, and cast to your TV. Enjoy personalized recommendations and continue watching where you left off.

**Highlights:** Documentaries, reports, and concerts, Offline viewing with downloads, Chromecast and AirPlay support, Automatic episode playback, Personalized 'MyARTE' space, Multi-language support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Siri integration, SharePlay

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NFB Films free?

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

### Is ARTE.tv free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NFB Films or ARTE.tv?

ARTE.tv is rated higher. NFB Films averages 4.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while ARTE.tv averages 4.5 from 393 ratings.

### Do NFB Films or ARTE.tv have ads?

Neither NFB Films nor ARTE.tv shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NFB Films or ARTE.tv?

NFB Films ships an update every 3 weeks, and ARTE.tv every 6 weeks. Most recently, NFB Films was updated on October 26, 2026 and ARTE.tv on November 1, 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.*