# ARTE.tv vs Apple TV

The clearest difference is ads: ARTE.tv at none against Apple TV's shown. ARTE.tv also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (55% vs 43%). Apple TV's advantage is ratings volume (1.9M vs 333) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Apple TV holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Apple TV has 1.9M ratings behind it against 333, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of ARTE.tv's written reviews are positive against 43% of Apple TV's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ARTE.tv ships an update every 6 weeks, Apple TV every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARTE.tv | Apple TV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (333 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artetv/id405028510/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-tv/id1174078549/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 333 | **1.9M** |
| Positive reviews | **55.1% of reviews** | 43.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 119 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **10.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ARTE.TV](https://appshunter.io/developer/379981515) | [Apple](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) |

## 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


### Apple TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-tv/id1174078549)

This app is a central hub for exclusive original series, movies, and live sports like Formula 1 and MLB. It also aggregates content from your favorite streaming services, allowing you to buy or rent titles and discover new shows.

**Highlights:** Exclusive Apple Originals, Live Formula 1 & MLB, Buy or rent movies, Aggregate streaming services, Personalized recommendations, Continue Watching feature

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Decent quality viewing experience
- 👍 Impressive 4K and audio quality
- 🤩 Fantastic original content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable app
- 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 💰 Misleading pricing and pay-to-watch content
- 🤔 Lack of user-friendly features
- 😡 Terrible customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Playback issues and random freezes
- Incorrect episode/content display
- Syncing problems across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to save/bookmark content for later
- Improved content organization and navigation
- Sync playback progress across devices
- Chromecast/casting support
- User profiles and personalized recommendations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARTE.tv free?

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

### Is Apple TV free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ARTE.tv or Apple TV?

Apple TV is rated higher. ARTE.tv averages 4.5 out of 5 from 333 ratings, while Apple TV averages 4.8 from 1.9M ratings.

### Do ARTE.tv or Apple TV have ads?

Apple TV shows ads; ARTE.tv does not.

### Which is updated more often, ARTE.tv or Apple TV?

ARTE.tv ships an update every 6 weeks, and Apple TV every 2 months. Most recently, ARTE.tv was updated on September 24, 2026 and Apple TV on September 25, 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.*