# ARTE.tv vs Watch Essentials

ARTE.tv and Watch Essentials both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 88% of Watch Essentials's written reviews are positive against 61% of ARTE.tv's. Watch Essentials also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.0). ARTE.tv's advantage is ratings volume (333 vs 21) and device support (4 vs 2). 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 — 4.5 for ARTE.tv against 4.6 for Watch Essentials. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ARTE.tv has 333 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of ARTE.tv's written reviews are positive against 88% of Watch Essentials's.

ARTE.tv ships an update every 6 weeks, Watch Essentials every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARTE.tv | Watch Essentials |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (333 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artetv/id405028510/reviews) | **[4.6 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watch-essentials/id1141456162/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **333** | 21 |
| Positive reviews | 60.9% of reviews | **88.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 119 MB | 154 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ARTE.TV](https://appshunter.io/developer/379981515) | [Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie](https://appshunter.io/developer/335774748) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Watch Essentials

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watch-essentials/id1141456162)

Learn the fundamentals of watchmaking through an engaging course. Explore topics like terminology, parts, operation, materials, complications, and history. Unlock new lessons and build your own virtual watch.

**Highlights:** Watchmaking course, Terminology, External parts, Operation, Materials, Introduction to complications, Build virtual watch

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARTE.tv free?

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

### Is Watch Essentials free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ARTE.tv or Watch Essentials?

Watch Essentials is rated higher. ARTE.tv averages 4.5 out of 5 from 333 ratings, while Watch Essentials averages 4.6 from 21 ratings.

### Do ARTE.tv or Watch Essentials have ads?

Neither ARTE.tv nor Watch Essentials shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ARTE.tv or Watch Essentials?

ARTE.tv ships an update every 6 weeks, and Watch Essentials every 5 weeks. Most recently, ARTE.tv was updated on October 15, 2026 and Watch Essentials on October 11, 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.*