# ARTE.tv vs ARD Mediathek

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARTE.tv | ARD Mediathek |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (400 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artetv/id405028510/reviews) | **[4.8 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ard-mediathek/id981496660/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 400 | **2K** |
| Positive reviews | **61.4% of reviews** | 41.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 119 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ARTE.TV](https://appshunter.io/developer/379981515) | [Sudwestrundfunk, Anstalt des offentlichen Rechts](https://appshunter.io/developer/610313722) |

## 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


### ARD Mediathek

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ard-mediathek/id981496660)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good media library
- 🚀 Smooth playback
- 🌍 Useful for expats
- 💡 Great for staying connected to German culture

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Content blocked outside of Germany
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Lack of content availability
- 🤯 Unreliable performance after updates

**Reported bugs**

- Playback issues (audio/video desync, freezing, loading problems)
- Compatibility problems with older devices and platforms
- Unreliable streaming and downloading

**Requested features**

- Improve content availability for international users
- Enhance stability and reliability
- Add more playback options (e.g., full-screen, background audio)


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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