# ZDF vs Unser Sandmännchen

The clearest difference is ratings volume: ZDF at 9.8K against Unser Sandmännchen's 40. Unser Sandmännchen's advantage is review sentiment (78% vs 66%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for ZDF against 4.6 for Unser Sandmännchen. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZDF has 9.8K ratings behind it against 40, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of ZDF's written reviews are positive against 78% of Unser Sandmännchen's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ZDF | Unser Sandmännchen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zdf/id437025413/reviews)** | [4.6 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unser-sandmannchen/id561035119/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9.8K** | 40 |
| Positive reviews | 66.2% of reviews | **78.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 101 MB | 325 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ZDF](https://appshunter.io/developer/437025416) | [Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg](https://appshunter.io/developer/467593967) |

## 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


### Unser Sandmännchen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unser-sandmannchen/id561035119)

Explore a vibrant world with the Sandman, engaging in creative role-play, interactive games, and a media library of videos and audio stories. Record and share your adventures, or enjoy daily bedtime stories and mini-games. This app encourages imagination and learning through play.

**Highlights:** Creative role-playing world, Record and share videos, Media library with videos and audio, Daily bedtime stories, Mini-games (puzzle, memo), Interactive vehicles and animals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ZDF free?

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

### Is Unser Sandmännchen free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ZDF or Unser Sandmännchen?

ZDF is rated higher. ZDF averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.8K ratings, while Unser Sandmännchen averages 4.6 from 40 ratings.

### Do ZDF or Unser Sandmännchen have ads?

Neither ZDF nor Unser Sandmännchen shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ZDF or Unser Sandmännchen?

ZDF ships an update monthly, and Unser Sandmännchen monthly. Most recently, ZDF was updated on October 18, 2026 and Unser Sandmännchen on October 15, 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.*