ARTE.tv vs ARD Mediathek
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ARTE.tv
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.
- Documentaries, reports, and concerts
- Offline viewing with downloads
- Chromecast and AirPlay support
- Automatic episode playback
- Personalized 'MyARTE' space
- Multi-language support
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Compatible with AirPlay and Chromecast Documentaries, reportages, magazine shows and concerts, all on the ARTE app. Watch your favourite ARTE shows whenever and wherever you want. A whole world of ARTE in one App New programmes every week: documentaries on social issues and engaging exposés. Reportage, live concerts and more… Find what you want to watch by browsing our categories. Are you a Binge-watcher? With automatic play you don’t need to move. We will automatically play the next episode for you. Sit back and relax. Watch ARTE offline With our download option you can now watch ARTE programmes offline. That means on the plane, on the beach or wherever you like. Download videos by pressing the download button (before you go off grid). Your downloads are stored in your “MyARTE” space for 72 hours and are accessible abroad. Linkup to your TV screen If you have a Chromecast key or Apple TV you can connect the ARTE app to your TV screen. Just click on the ‘Cast’ icon in the video player. MyARTE In your “MyARTE” space you can continue watching videos from where you left off, select your favourites and add content to watch later. Language - Choose your language by clicking on the cog on the bottom-right of the video player. (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish). You can also change languages in the app settings. For optimal performance the ARTE app needs to access to - Calendar in order to add upcoming programmes - Bluetooth for access to Chromecast - Microphone to configure Chromecast Authorisation for access will be asked when you navigate the app. You can refuse access at any time. If you have any comments or suggestions https://www.arte.tv/sites/en/corporate/users-guide/contact/ For legal reasons some of our programmes are only available in France and Germany whereas others are only available in Europe.
ARD Mediathek
Stream a wide variety of German public broadcasting content, including news, documentaries, series, films, shows, and live TV channels. Create profiles for personalized recommendations, watchlists, and seamless cross-device viewing. Includes a dedicated, safe children's profile.
- Stream news, documentaries, series, and films
- Watch live ARD TV channels
- Personalized user profiles
- Continue watching across devices
- Create watchlists
- Dedicated children's profile
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ARD MEDIATHEK: STREAMING FÜR ALLE Nachrichten, Dokus, Serien, Filme, Shows, Sportevents und Live-TV – mit der ARD Mediathek streamst du jederzeit und überall das Beste der ARD. Wie wär’s mit dem Sonntagabend-Kult-Krimi „Tatort“? Guck die Folge, die du willst, wann du willst. Oder lieber Comedy? Bei „Falsch, aber anders lustig“ liefern sich Comedians einen Wettkampf mit Impro-Gags und One-Liner. Unsere Doku-Soaps „Feuer & Flamme“ und „In höchster Not – Bergretter im Einsatz“ bringen dich ganz nah dran an Alltag und Notfalleinsätze von realen Rettungsteams. Nachrichten und Informationen aus deiner Region bekommst du jederzeit bei der „Tagesschau“ oder den Regionalmagazinen. WEITERSCHAUEN, MERKLISTEN UND EMPFEHLUNGEN Mit deinem persönlichen Profil in der ARD Mediathek streamst du noch komfortabler. Schau Videos da weiter, wo du sie beim letzten Mal pausiert hast. Leg dir eine Merkliste mit deinen Lieblingsvideos an, sodass du nicht vergisst, was du gucken wolltest. Du wechselst beim Streaming von Smartphone auf TV? Guck auf dem neuen Gerät da weiter, wo du aufgehört hast. Mit deinem Profil bekommst du außerdem persönliche Empfehlungen. So entdeckst du mehr von dem, was du am liebsten magst. ALLE LIVE-SENDER DER ARD JEDERZEIT STREAMEN Mit der ARD Mediathek kannst du natürlich auch alle TV-Programme der ARD live sehen. Streame jederzeit und überall: • Das Erste • BR • hr • mdr • NDR • radiobremen • rbb • SR • SWR • WDR • one • arte • KiKA • 3sat • ARD alpha • tagesschau 24 • phoenix • Deutsche Welle DAS KINDERPROFIL - EINFACH, KINDGERECHT UND SICHER Ab sofort kannst du für Kinder ein eigenes Profil in der ARD Mediathek anlegen. Das Kinderprofil ist nicht nur kunterbunt. Einfache Navigation und mehr Übersicht helfen Kindern, ihr Profil spielerisch und selbstständig zu erkunden. Im Kinderprofil haben Kinder nur Zugriff auf Inhalte, die zu ihrem Alter passen – von „Die Sendung mit der Maus“ über „Die Pfefferkörner“ bis zu „Unser Sandmännchen“. Das Verlassen des Kinderprofils ist durch eine Sicherung geschützt. FRAGEN, HINWEISE, KRITIK Weitere Informationen und Antworten findest du in der App unter Hilfe oder unter: https://hilfe.ard.de/mediathek/ Nutzungsbedingungen: https://www.ardmediathek.de/nutzungsbedingungen Datenschutz: https://www.ardmediathek.de/datenschutz Impressum: https://www.ardmediathek.de/impressum ARD. WIR SIND DEINS.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ARD Mediathek at 4.8 against ARTE.tv's 4.5. ARD Mediathek also leads on ratings volume (2K vs 400). ARTE.tv's advantage is review sentiment (61% vs 42%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ARD Mediathek holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ARD Mediathek has 2K ratings behind it against 400, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of ARTE.tv's written reviews are positive against 42% of ARD Mediathek'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, ARD Mediathek every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | ARTE.tv | ARD Mediathek |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (400 ratings) | 4.8 (2K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 61.4% of reviews — better | 41.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 400 | 2K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 119 MB | 78 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | ARTE.TV | Sudwestrundfunk, Anstalt des offentlichen Rechts |
Customer experience
ARTE.tv
ARD Mediathek
Bugs and requests
ARTE.tv
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
ARD Mediathek
Reported bugs
3 issues- Playback issues (audio/video desync, freezing, loading problems)
- Compatibility problems with older devices and platforms
- Unreliable streaming and downloading
Requested features
3 requests- Improve content availability for international users
- Enhance stability and reliability
- Add more playback options (e.g., full-screen, background audio)
In-app purchases
ARTE.tv
No in-app purchases
ARD Mediathek
No in-app purchases








