# ZDF vs ARD Mediathek

ZDF and ARD Mediathek both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 66% of ZDF's written reviews are positive against 42% of ARD Mediathek's. ZDF also leads on ratings volume (9.8K vs 1.9K). 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 4.8 for ARD Mediathek. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZDF has 9.8K ratings behind it against 1.9K, 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 42% of ARD Mediathek's.

ZDF ships an update monthly, ARD Mediathek every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ZDF | ARD Mediathek |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zdf/id437025413/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ard-mediathek/id981496660/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9.8K** | 1.9K |
| Positive reviews | **66.3% of reviews** | 41.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 101 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ZDF](https://appshunter.io/developer/437025416) | [Sudwestrundfunk, Anstalt des offentlichen Rechts](https://appshunter.io/developer/610313722) |

## 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


### 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 ZDF free?

ZDF 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, ZDF or ARD Mediathek?

ARD Mediathek is rated higher. ZDF averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.8K ratings, while ARD Mediathek averages 4.8 from 1.9K ratings.

### Do ZDF or ARD Mediathek have ads?

Neither ZDF nor ARD Mediathek shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ZDF or ARD Mediathek?

ZDF ships an update monthly, and ARD Mediathek every 3 weeks. Most recently, ZDF was updated on September 24, 2026 and ARD Mediathek on September 26, 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.*