# ARTE.tv vs RTL play

The clearest difference is ads: ARTE.tv at none against RTL play's shown. ARTE.tv also leads on review sentiment (61% vs 29%) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). RTL play's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). On price, 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.

ARTE.tv holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ARTE.tv has 390 ratings behind it against 30, 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 29% of RTL play's.

ARTE.tv ships an update every 6 weeks, RTL play every 11 days. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARTE.tv | RTL play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (390 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artetv/id405028510/reviews)** | [4.3 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtl-play-streaming-et-direct/id500999908/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **390** | 30 |
| Positive reviews | **61.4% of reviews** | 29.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 119 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ARTE.TV](https://appshunter.io/developer/379981515) | [RTL Belgium](https://appshunter.io/developer/374556522) |

## 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


### RTL play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtl-play-streaming-et-direct/id500999908)

Stream your favorite Belgian and international series, movies, entertainment shows, news programs, and live sports events. Resume watching where you left off and save content to your favorites list for easy access across all your devices.

**Highlights:** Live and on-demand streaming, Belgian and international series, Movies and entertainment shows, News magazines, Live and replay sports, Resume watching functionality, Favorites list

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARTE.tv free?

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

### Is RTL play free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ARTE.tv or RTL play?

ARTE.tv is rated higher. ARTE.tv averages 4.5 out of 5 from 390 ratings, while RTL play averages 4.3 from 30 ratings.

### Do ARTE.tv or RTL play have ads?

RTL play shows ads; ARTE.tv does not.

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

ARTE.tv ships an update every 6 weeks, and RTL play every 11 days. Most recently, ARTE.tv was updated on October 29, 2026 and RTL play on October 29, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*