# CineStar vs ARD Mediathek

The clearest difference is rating: ARD Mediathek at 4.8 against CineStar's 2.0. ARD Mediathek also leads on ratings volume (2K vs 7) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). CineStar's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, 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 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ARD Mediathek has 2K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of CineStar'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.

CineStar ships an update every 3 months, ARD Mediathek every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CineStar | ARD Mediathek |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cinestar/id852408473/reviews) | **[4.8 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ard-mediathek/id981496660/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **2K** |
| Positive reviews | **46.2% of reviews** | 41.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 24 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [CineStar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1300517270) | [Sudwestrundfunk, Anstalt des offentlichen Rechts](https://appshunter.io/developer/610313722) |

## What reviewers say

### CineStar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cinestar/id852408473)

Easily access movie showtimes, purchase tickets with QR codes, and browse the complete cinema program. Discover trailers, explore offers, and shop for vouchers and merchandise directly within the app.

**Highlights:** Mobile ticketing with QR code, Browse cinema program, Watch trailers, Discover offers, Online shop for vouchers and merchandise, Filter by film, date, and cinema

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**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 CineStar free?

CineStar 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, CineStar or ARD Mediathek?

ARD Mediathek is rated higher. CineStar averages 2.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while ARD Mediathek averages 4.8 from 2K ratings.

### Do CineStar or ARD Mediathek have ads?

Neither CineStar nor ARD Mediathek shows ads.

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

CineStar ships an update every 3 months, and ARD Mediathek every 3 weeks. Most recently, CineStar was updated on October 18, 2026 and ARD Mediathek on October 19, 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.*