Comparison

ARTE.tv vs ARD Mediathek

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Documentaries, reports, and concerts
  • Offline viewing with downloads
  • Chromecast and AirPlay support
  • Automatic episode playback
  • Personalized 'MyARTE' space
  • Multi-language support
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Stream news, documentaries, series, and films
  • Watch live ARD TV channels
  • Personalized user profiles
  • Continue watching across devices
  • Create watchlists
  • Dedicated children's profile
Features
Read full description

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

ARTE.tv4 screens
ARD Mediathek4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ARTE.tv ships an update every 6 weeks, ARD Mediathek every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
ARTE.tv versus ARD Mediathek: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterARTE.tvARD Mediathek
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (400 ratings)4.8 (2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.4% of reviews — better41.7% of reviews
Number of ratings4002K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision ProiPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size119 MB78 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperARTE.TVSudwestrundfunk, Anstalt des offentlichen Rechts

Customer experience

ARTE.tv

All ratings383 ratings
Positive88.8%
Neutral3.1%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews241 reviews
Positive61.4%
Neutral9.1%
Negative29.5%

ARD Mediathek

All ratings1,978 ratings
Positive96.1%
Neutral2.1%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews132 reviews
Positive41.7%
Neutral10.6%
Negative47.7%

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

None

ARTE.tv

No in-app purchases

None

ARD Mediathek

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ARTE.tv free?
ARTE.tv is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ARD Mediathek free?
ARD Mediathek is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ARTE.tv or ARD Mediathek?
ARD Mediathek is rated higher. ARTE.tv averages 4.5 out of 5 from 400 ratings, while ARD Mediathek averages 4.8 from 2K ratings.
Do ARTE.tv or ARD Mediathek have ads?
Neither ARTE.tv nor ARD Mediathek shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ARTE.tv or ARD Mediathek?
ARTE.tv ships an update every 6 weeks, and ARD Mediathek every 3 weeks. Most recently, ARTE.tv was updated on November 6, 2026 and ARD Mediathek on November 6, 2026.

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