# ZDF vs MagentaTV

The clearest difference is ratings volume: ZDF at 9.8K against MagentaTV's 210. ZDF also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). MagentaTV's advantage is review sentiment (77% vs 66%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 210, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of ZDF's written reviews are positive against 77% of MagentaTV's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ZDF ships an update monthly, MagentaTV every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ZDF | MagentaTV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zdf/id437025413/reviews)** | [4.5 (210 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magentatv-1-generation/id1054468721/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9.8K** | 210 |
| Positive reviews | 66.3% of reviews | **77.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 101 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ZDF](https://appshunter.io/developer/437025416) | [Telekom Deutschland GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/930125248) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### MagentaTV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magentatv-1-generation/id1054468721)

This application provides access to television and streaming content for users with specific Telekom MagentaTV plans booked before February 15, 2024. It requires an internet connection and offers features like Cloud Recorder, Download & Play, and Timeshift & Restart, with potential content restrictions based on licensing and network provider.

**Highlights:** Live TV streaming, Cloud Recorder, Download & Play content, Timeshift & Restart functionality, Access to Telekom MagentaTV plans

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ZDF free?

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

### Is MagentaTV free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ZDF or MagentaTV?

ZDF is rated higher. ZDF averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.8K ratings, while MagentaTV averages 4.5 from 210 ratings.

### Do ZDF or MagentaTV have ads?

Neither ZDF nor MagentaTV shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ZDF or MagentaTV?

ZDF ships an update monthly, and MagentaTV every 2 months. Most recently, ZDF was updated on September 24, 2026 and MagentaTV on September 24, 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.*