BBC Sounds

BBC Sounds

Music, Radio, Podcasts

353K ratings
909 reviews
Free

Details

Released
July 2, 2018
Updated
November 2, 2026

Features

BBC Sounds screenshot #1 for iPhone
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About

Access the best of BBC audio content, including live radio, podcasts, and music. Stream or download your favorites, pause live broadcasts, and receive personalized recommendations. Continue listening across devices with optional autoplay features.

✓Stream live BBC Radio stations
✓Pause and rewind live radio
✓Download or stream podcasts and music
✓Continue listening across devices
✓Personalized recommendations
✓Subscribe to shows and mixes
✓Sleep Timer
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What users say about BBC Sounds

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+1

What's New in BBC Sounds

2.64.0

November 2, 2026

This release contains general bug fixes and improvements.

Events

Read more about Football Daily

Football Daily

Your daily World Cup 2026 podcast

Jun 29, 2026 — Jul 19, 2026

Read more about Christmas Music

Christmas Music

Handpicked festive music for every occasion

Dec 11, 2024 — Dec 26, 2024

Read more about History's Youngest Heroes

History's Youngest Heroes

Weekly podcast with Nicola Coughlan

Dec 11, 2024 — Jan 11, 2025

User reviews

BBC sounds

BBC sounds best audio service out there, quality programming, great audio drama.

Good

Would like it to put on local radio on Car Play.

Atrocious interface design

Really badly designed interface. Useful buttons are minuscule just to prettify things with needless white space. Text is often so large that it allows no information at all to be divulged. Repeated clicks to take one deeper or back because no thought has been given to likely user choices. No customisation because BBC wish to direct users across programming. This is an outrageous mess.

BBC Sounds is NOT easy to access using the ALEXA voice controls. Every time I ask ALEXA to play BBC SOUNDS, before I get to hear any BBC radio station I get a screaming hysterical banshee telling me about the BBC’s summer of sport, or how exciting the Proms is going to be. Worst of all, the unwelcome invitation to chill, relax.

Relax? No, I am angry.
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Pleasure

A tremendous benefit
A real plus to modern life

Love the variety

It is brilliant to be able to catch up on programmes I miss (particularly on radio 4) when I’m out or busy. Plus I often discover old favourites that I heard years ago and also new things I missed out on. Please don’t get rid of Radio 4 extra - it is also fantastic for finding long lost programmes and is part of the brilliance of BBC Sounds. I love the BBC- please don’t destroy it
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Developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

3 issues

Frequent crashes and loading errors

Bug

Playback issues when switching connections

Bug

Inconsistent episode availability

Bug
✨

Requested Features

6 requests

Add volume controls

Feature

Improve episode queuing and autoplay

Feature

Introduce a sleep timer

Feature

Provide better podcast organization and search

Feature

Develop an Apple Watch app

Feature

Allow offline downloads

Feature

FAQ

What can I listen to on BBC Sounds?

BBC Sounds allows you to stream and download a vast array of BBC audio content. This includes live broadcasts from all BBC Radio stations, a wide selection of BBC podcasts, and curated music mixes. You can also browse past and future radio schedules.

Can I listen to content offline?

Yes, you can download your favorite podcasts, radio shows, and music to listen to on the go without an internet connection. This feature allows for offline playback of content you've saved.

Is BBC Sounds free to use?

Yes, BBC Sounds is a free application. It is provided by the BBC and does not require a subscription fee for access to its content. However, it does contain advertisements.

What devices is BBC Sounds compatible with?

The app is designed to be used across multiple devices, allowing you to seamlessly continue listening from where you left off. This includes support for Apple CarPlay, indicating compatibility with various mobile and in-car systems.

How does BBC Sounds personalize recommendations?

By allowing personalization, the app tracks your listening habits on BBC Sounds, including which programmes you listen to and for how long. It also notes when you bookmark or subscribe to content. This data is used to provide tailored recommendations for new audio you might enjoy.