# ARD Mediathek vs Sat.1 AD

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ARD Mediathek at 41% against Sat.1 AD's 0%. ARD Mediathek also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and device support (4 vs 2). Sat.1 AD's advantage is iOS requirement (10.3 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.

ARD Mediathek ships an update every 3 weeks, Sat.1 AD every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARD Mediathek | Sat.1 AD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ard-mediathek/id981496660/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **40.9% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 78 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **10.3** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Sudwestrundfunk, Anstalt des offentlichen Rechts](https://appshunter.io/developer/610313722) | [DATAMATIX Datensysteme GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1461463530) |

## 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)


### Sat.1 AD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sat1-ad/id1531514150)

This app provides audio descriptions for audiovisual media, making films and shows more accessible for blind and visually impaired individuals. It describes key visual elements like actions, characters, and expressions during speech pauses, enhancing comprehension without disrupting the viewing experience.

**Highlights:** Audio descriptions for films and shows, Enhances accessibility for visually impaired users, Describes actions, characters, and expressions, Integrates seamlessly with audiovisual content, Improves understanding of visual elements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARD Mediathek free?

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

### Is Sat.1 AD free?

Sat.1 AD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do ARD Mediathek or Sat.1 AD have ads?

Neither ARD Mediathek nor Sat.1 AD shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ARD Mediathek or Sat.1 AD?

ARD Mediathek ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sat.1 AD every 2 months. Most recently, ARD Mediathek was updated on November 11, 2026 and Sat.1 AD on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*