# ARD Mediathek vs VisitFRA

The clearest difference is update cadence: ARD Mediathek at every 3 weeks against VisitFRA's every 9 months. ARD Mediathek also leads on device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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, VisitFRA every 9 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ARD Mediathek | VisitFRA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ard-mediathek/id981496660/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 78 MB | 102 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sudwestrundfunk, Anstalt des offentlichen Rechts](https://appshunter.io/developer/610313722) | [Fraport AG - Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide](https://appshunter.io/developer/453191402) |

## 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)


### VisitFRA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visitfra/id1597310383)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ARD Mediathek free?

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

### Is VisitFRA free?

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

### Do ARD Mediathek or VisitFRA have ads?

Neither ARD Mediathek nor VisitFRA shows ads.

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

ARD Mediathek ships an update every 3 weeks, and VisitFRA every 9 months. Most recently, ARD Mediathek was updated on October 26, 2026 and VisitFRA on October 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.*