Access in-depth, nonpartisan news and analysis focused on California's quality of life issues. Hold leaders accountable with investigative journalism covering the Golden State and its global economic impact.
5.0(18 ratings)
Free
Best apps like KALW
10+ similar apps compared and reviewed
4.7 avg rating
10 free apps
Updated September 2026
KALW is great, but it's not the only option. Explore 10+ similar apps for iPhone and iPad, each reviewed and rated by real users. Find free alternatives, premium upgrades, and hidden gems.
Top Alternatives to KALW
Capital Public Radio App by Capital Public Radio
Strong Contender
📡 News
4.4😊(237 ratings)
Free
Listen to live public radio, pause and rewind, and explore on-demand content. Search for stories, bookmark favorites, and set alarms to wake up to your preferred station. Access programs from multiple providers with ease.
What We Love
- 📻 Access to NPR and local news anywhere
- 🎵 Excellent music variety (jazz, classical, opera)
- 👍 User-friendly interface and easy navigation
- 📱 Multi-device compatibility (phone, tablet, watch, car)
- ⏸️ Ability to pause and replay live radio
- 📚 On-demand access to shows and archives
- 🎧 High-quality audio streaming
- 💡 Well-organized content with visual story links
- 🌍 Reliable access while traveling
- 🎯 Clear separation of news and music streams
Room to Improve
- 🐛 Frequent buffering and playback interruptions
- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Audio cuts out unexpectedly
- 🐛 Repeating audio segments and commercials
- 🐛 Playback stops without restarting automatically
- 😕 Unintuitive navigation between live and on-demand content
- 😕 Difficulty finding past broadcasts and archived content
- 😕 Missing song/artist information display
- 😕 App gets evicted from memory quickly
- 😕 Cluttered interface with large player controls
- ⚠️ Inconsistent performance across devices
KZYX Public Broadcasting App by Mendocino County Public Broadcasting Inc
Worth Considering
📡 News
4.9(31 ratings)
Free
Listen to live radio, pause and rewind broadcasts, and access archived shows. Includes a program schedule, alarm clock, and sleep timer for a seamless listening experience.
More apps like KALW
4
KQED: Bay Area Culture & News
Read, Listen, and Watch
Free
Access trusted local news, live radio, and television streams from the Bay Area. Discover original podcasts and video series, and stay updated on community events. Personalize your feed with topics that interest you most.
Personalized news feedLive TV and radio streamingOriginal podcasts and video series
📡 News
(9.4K)
free5
NorCal Public Media App
by KRCB RADIO
Free
Listen to live radio and watch live TV streams, with DVR-like controls for pausing and rewinding. Explore on-demand content, search for programs, and set alarms to wake up to your favorite station. Easily share content with friends and family.
Live radio and TV streamingDVR-like controls (pause, rewind, fast forward)On-demand content access
📡 News
(33)
ad-supported6
KAZU Public Radio App
by University Corporation At Monterey Bay
Free
Listen to live and on-demand public radio content, with DVR-like controls for pausing and rewinding live audio. Explore program schedules, search for specific stories or shows, and set alarms to wake up to your favorite station.
Live audio streamingPause, rewind, and fast forward live audioProgram schedule integration
📡 News
(88)
free7
The San Francisco Standard
SF news, sports, food, homes
Free
Stay informed with comprehensive coverage of San Francisco Bay Area news, politics, business, food, tech, and culture. Access essential daily updates and in-depth reporting.
Daily news updatesPolitics coverageBusiness news
📡 News
(13)
free8
East Bay Times for Mobile
by MediaNews Group
Free
Access personalized news, save articles for later, and customize push notifications. Enjoy a digital replica of the newspaper, offline reading, and a variety of games. This optimized app offers a streamlined news experience.
Personalized news recommendationsSave articles for later readingCustomizable push notifications
📡 News
(288)
free with in-app purchases9
Boise State Public Radio
by Boise State University
Free
Listen to live radio streams, control playback with DVR-like features, and access on-demand content. Explore program guides, set alarms, and share stories.
Live radio streamingPause and rewind live audioOn-demand content access
📡 News
(59)
free10
KAWC / KOFA
by Yuma/La Paz Counties Community College District
Free
Listen to live radio streams, pause and rewind audio, and access on-demand programs. Explore schedules, bookmark content, and wake up to your favorite station with an alarm. Share stories and find more information directly within the app.
Live radio streamingPause and rewind live audioOn-demand program access
📡 News
(12)
free