# Classical Archives — user reviews > 34 indexed App Store user reviews of Classical Archives by Classical Archives LLC, rated 3.60/5 from 17 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classical-archives/id646988353/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classical-archives/id646988353.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 9 · 4★ 2 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 3 ## Newest reviews (10 of 34) ### 4/5 — Very good *2015-01-15, version 2.0* Classical Archives has a very good streaming music service. This app streams good quality that doesn't fail. ### 4/5 — Good Program *2014-01-06, version 1.32* I've been generally satisfied with this program and Classical Archives in general. If you're a member, get the app. ### 3/5 — How do I hear full versions??? *2014-01-05, version 1.32* Love the pieces, good recordings, all the best composers. But it only allows me to hear previews for 1 minute. Says to tap the bar for more info, but it doesn't do anything when I tap it. Also wish the music was louder. Hope there are directions for getting the full versions of pieces soon. ### 4/5 — A Good Start *2013-07-13, version 1.2* Always been interested in the Classical Archive, but wasn't interested in the browser interface. This app works well enough on my iPad that I became a member. Airplay streaming is accessible through the app, and background streaming works nicely, so I can easily stream music to my audio system while using the iPad for other purposes. However, the app lacks some of the functionality of the browser interface. For me, the most notable omission is the ability to go from a selected recording to the album containing that recording. Second most notable omission is the ability to search by performer. As these make clear, the interface is focused only on locating recordings of works by composer, genre, type of piece. Which isn't a bad place to start, I haven't found that doable with other online music services. So, four stars for a good start, and to encourage further development of this app in support of the best service I've found for the discovery of classical music. Give it a try - if you're not a member, it works just the same, except you only get a one-minute preview of each track. ### 4/5 — Good *2013-07-08, version 1.2* It would be nice if I could access my playlists in-app. ### 5/5 — Fantastic! At last!! *2013-07-03, version 1.2* This app allows to SELECT what work you want to listen to in this gigantic library! (So it's not a radio!) Two main modes: In The Library mode, you can select the performance (album) of the work you want to listen to. To do this in The Library, either select The Greats for quick access to the really greatest composers, or you can search by composer name. In the Must Know mode, you are presented with the latest releases of the most important works. Again two methods: by the Must Know composers, or you can search for these "must know" works by Period and/or Genre (like Late-/Post-Romantic + Stage/Opera). The app's Queuing Player is beautiful to look at and allows you to add many tracks, even complete works, to be played one after the other. And it is gapless! Cool! ### 5/5 — Full approach *2013-06-23, version 1.2* Could you explain how to get full access to the tracks, what to do and how it works? What is the way to become an Archive member? The programme would be great when one can listen to the tracks up to the end! ### 4/5 — Horraayy! Hurrah! *2013-06-16, version 1.1* I have for a couple of years used my iPhone's Safari browser to stream Classical Archives. This method doesn't recover well from interruptions (e.g., a phone call). The iPhone application is much more robust. It only lacks one feature: The ability to select an album containing works by multiple composers. The current version only allows selecting works one at a time from the catalog of individual composers' works. ### 5/5 — Remarkable. *2013-06-16, version 1.1* Easy to use. Beautifully designed. Amazing selection and options. Great audio. It's the only classical music app I need. This is one of the most excellent apps I have. Thanks so much. ### 5/5 — A dream come true *2013-06-12, version 1.1* Like the main Classical Archives site which I have been using for 2+ years, the new iPhone app is wonderful in every way. It Is phenomenal to be able to take this classical music database from everywhere I go – to the gym, toy bedside tanle, you name it. This is just a wonderful event in the life of any classical music lover, ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — A+ for idea and effort. D- for user interface *2024-11-02, version 5.0.2* I’m debating ho many stars to give for an app that is so difficult to use. I decided quality of content rather than presentation is more important. Then I couldn’t even get the “contact us” link to work. I purchase a yrly subscription but neither the website recognizes it when I logged back in. Cleared browser data, restarted phone & nada. . I’ve rarely had to work so hard to get someone to take my $$. The website menu option such as “my account” doesn’t work. I had a free membership until I realized you could get all the classical music you’d ever want for $80 p/yr ($8 p/mo) as opposed to streaming services with specific Classical content for double the price. That said, the App doesn’t have a “forgot your password link” or “my account” link. You have to go to the website for that & it doesn’t work. I’ve loved Classical music since I was 12yrs old- 5 decades or so ago & started a BA in vocal performance. Life happened, I’ve done other stuff w/those 50 yrs. But I’ve always regretted not learning how music works. I happened upon a guy- most call him Maestro- I think it just goes to his head- who is brilliant and willing to teach. I’m now actively listening for things like key changes in Beethoven’s symphonies (I’m going to do something easier) & listening for specific instruments. CA has play lists for such things. I’ll be able to give up my YT Music ($16 p/mo-yay). So this is exactly what I want. If you’re in the SF Bay Area & are interested in performing w/a semiprofessional symphony orchestra & chorus or finally learning how music works, Google: Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra & Chorus. ### 1/5 — App needs work *2020-09-27, version 3.1.6* Love the site but the app is terrible. When I leave the app to do something like answer a text message the music stops. When I lock my phone the music stops. So the only way I can listen to music is with my phone unlocked and the app open. That’s pretty stupid. ### 1/5 — Not accessible with voiceover *2020-06-21, version 3.1.6* App is not compatible with voiceover for use by visually impaired or blind users. Please label buttons and other user interface elements so that app can be used. ### 1/5 — One star too much *2017-04-01, version 2.1* First of all, this will cost you eight bucks a month – information you have to dig to find out. (I plan on canceling when I get the first charge.) Nothing on the site work for me. Repeatedly trying to line up selections to play meant my 20-number queue was full and I could go no further. There was no place to see what was in my queue, but I suspect it was almost entirely a selection I tried to add without any notification that it had actually been added. This experience was such a scam that I recommend Apple take it out of the store because it undermines confidence in the kind of product you were offering. The selection looks great – unfortunately I was unable to access any of it. I got one minute of my initial selection and could not get the site to do anything after that. (Oh, you can comment on your experience but I'm not holding my breath until I get a reply.) As far as I'm concerned, what I received from this download was less useful than a good screen saver. Do not waste your time with this app. ### 1/5 — bad user experience *2016-05-15, version 2.1* Crashes constantly, deleting queue. Terrible incredibly frustrating user experience. Cannot edit or add to playlists as you can on the website. Cannot listen to non-featured playlists other than your own as you can on the website. No playback features. Once songs are played they are removed from the queue so you cannot re-listen. What other music app is like this? Compare functionality to Spotify, Pandora, even soundcloud etc apps, and it’s clear there is so much room for improvement - especially given that this is a paid subscription service. Also, why in the world does the iTunes store delete your entire review if your alias has already been taken? Totally ridiculous, this is my fourth time typing this review. ### 1/5 — Crashes continually *2015-06-16, version 2.1* If you try to jump to any selection in your queue, the app crashes. This is a problem because the limited search function means that you cannot select individual pieces of music (movements, for example); you must add the “entire” piece to your queue (whatever the app thinks is the “entire” piece). I contacted tech support and they said this is a known problem. Unfortunately, it makes this app, and therefore their service, unusable. (@margaretamartin) ### 1/5 — I want to like this app *2015-03-31, version 2.1* But it is crashing every time I try to skip to next item in the queue on my iPhone. ### 2/5 — Crashes *2024-08-04, version 5.0.2* Every time radio is chosen the app closes-iPhone 14 ### 2/5 — Still has bugs *2020-10-12, version 3.1.6* This is a great app and even the website the inventory is staggering all the great composers however that doesn’t make up for continual hiccups with this app. For example you pick a composer, you pick the composition,then you put the artist into the playlist you have selected, be it on an iPad or a phone you then tap add to playlist and the first dozen entries or so go in with no problem but then after that many times you tap it suddenly it now will not open up an “add the composition to your playlist” tab like it’s frozen and the crazy thing is it WILL let you put the composition an other other playlist but not the playlist that you obviously DON’T want to put into that list it will let it go into that playlist but the one that you wanna put it in forget it, Example if I had a playlist labeled Beethoven in another one labeled Mozart when I try to put Beethoven’s fifth Symphony into the Beethoven playlist tap all day it won’t add it,however touch Mozart and it will add it, it’s so annoying this is a great site for $80 a year for the unlimited access to the inventory however when you have simple problems with trying to add something to a playlist and it repeatedly freezes then it’s worthless! ### 3/5 — Want Full Tracks? Subscribe! *2014-12-14, version 1.32* It's not a free service! This is an answer to the person who asked about getting full tracks, not a review, so I'm giving a 3-star rating. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Cannot log in *2024-12-02* Log in issue otherwise superb ### 5/5 — Classical Archives best and worst *2023-02-17, version 5.0.1* Classical Archives is my favorite app. It has the best premise and search function of all my apps on my IPhone. I use it a lot. They have improved it over the years. It is now less clunky but still the most clunky of all my commonly used apps. So ironic. ### 5/5 — Wonderful app *2022-02-05, version 4.1.3* I loved the website, but the app makes listening far more convenient. Additionally, it provides a terrific selection of performances and an easy way to discover new pieces by both familiar and more obscure composers. For example, one month I decided I wanted to listen to all of Mozart. The way the app is structured, it was easy to do. ### 5/5 — Awesome *2013-11-21* Very well made app. Easy to use. ### 5/5 — Amazing app, but has a bug *2013-08-19, version 1.3* I really love this app! But i can't create an account. It always says "trouble logging in. Try again." It says thats every time! Please fix this, so i can get the songs on the playlist. ### 5/5 — David K *2013-08-01, version 1.3* Classical Archives is fabulous. It's a delight, and, for me, a dream come true. Their menu is straightforward. The selection of composers, their works, as well as versions of each composition are, with few exceptions, enormous. For example, I can choose from among dozens of recordings of Beethoven's 7th, with different orchestras and conductors, and from a variety of time periods. It's as if I have an enormous library of CDs that I can choose from among. The sound quality is excellent -- although of course it varies from recording to recording as it would if you had the actual CD. I play it on my Mini, most often hooked up to speakers or headphones. ### 5/5 — Big improvement! *2013-07-23, version 1.3* The original player was very nice, but the ability to import playlists is a huge improvement. Playlists are easy to create on their website, and a wider assortment of music is available there. ### 5/5 — Very convenient tool to introduction if classic music *2013-07-19, version 1.3* Tap and review pieces before concert, or get overview on particular piece before diving into music. Easy to use. ### 5/5 — Wonderful!! *2013-07-18, version 1.3* This terrific app allows you easily to dig deeply into a simply VAST collection of first class classical music recordings. It's surprisingly easy to find what you want to hear, and it frequently offers a surprisingly wide choice of performances of a chosen piece, by different performers. It's rather interesting to compare them. A play list can be created and enlarged - without even interrupting the music that's currently playing. Very good value and highly recommended. I use it almost every day. ### 5/5 — Fantastic! *2013-07-16, version 1.2* Was waiting for this iOS for long time. Awesome! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-11.*