# ARTE.tv vs ZDF

The clearest difference is ratings volume: ZDF at 9.8K against ARTE.tv's 333. ZDF also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, review sentiment, 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.

ZDF holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZDF has 9.8K ratings behind it against 333, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of ARTE.tv's written reviews are positive against 66% of ZDF's.

ARTE.tv ships an update every 6 weeks, ZDF monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARTE.tv | ZDF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (333 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artetv/id405028510/reviews) | **[4.7 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zdf/id437025413/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 333 | **9.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 60.9% of reviews | **66.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 119 MB | 101 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ARTE.TV](https://appshunter.io/developer/379981515) | [ZDF](https://appshunter.io/developer/437025416) |

## 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


### 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 ARTE.tv free?

ARTE.tv 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, ARTE.tv or ZDF?

ZDF is rated higher. ARTE.tv averages 4.5 out of 5 from 333 ratings, while ZDF averages 4.7 from 9.8K ratings.

### Do ARTE.tv or ZDF have ads?

Neither ARTE.tv nor ZDF shows ads.

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

ARTE.tv ships an update every 6 weeks, and ZDF monthly. Most recently, ARTE.tv was updated on September 29, 2026 and ZDF 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.*