# ARD Mediathek vs Heimlich

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ARD Mediathek at none against Heimlich's 10. Heimlich's advantage is review sentiment (53% vs 42%) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Heimlich sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. ARD Mediathek asks for nothing beyond the download.

ARD Mediathek ships an update every 3 weeks, Heimlich every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARD Mediathek | Heimlich |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ard-mediathek/id981496660/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 41.5% of reviews | **52.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 84 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Sudwestrundfunk, Anstalt des offentlichen Rechts](https://appshunter.io/developer/610313722) | [Interdev Tech Media LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1762217463) |

## What reviewers say

### 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)


### Heimlich

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heimlich/id1308069339)

This app allows users to anonymously share their secret desires and connect with like-minded individuals. Engage with others' stories, earn points for activities, and redeem them for rewards or use them in chats. It's a fun way to meet new people and potentially earn rewards.

**Highlights:** Anonymous secret sharing, Connect with like-minded people, Rate and comment on stories, Earn points for activities, Redeem points for rewards, Private chat with user controls, User verification for enhanced interaction

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription M (W) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Mitgliedschaft L (W) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Mitgliedschaft S (W) | $8.99 | one-time |
| Paket S | $9.99 | one-time |
| Mitgliedschaft S | $17.99 | one-time |
| Mitgliedschaft M | $44.99 | one-time |
| Mitgliedschaft L | $79.99 | one-time |
| Mitgliedschaft XL | $89.99 | one-time |
| Mitgliedschaft XL (W) | $89.99 | one-time |
| Packet XL | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARD Mediathek free?

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

### Is Heimlich free?

Heimlich is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do ARD Mediathek or Heimlich have ads?

Neither ARD Mediathek nor Heimlich shows ads.

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

ARD Mediathek ships an update every 3 weeks, and Heimlich every 2 weeks. Most recently, ARD Mediathek was updated on September 23, 2026 and Heimlich 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.*