# WBEZ — Chicago's NPR News Station > Chicago's NPR news station for live radio, on-demand audio, and podcasts. (iPhone/iPad app by Chicago Public Media, Inc..) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wbez/id587477231 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Chicago Public Media, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/379174218) - Category: News, Entertainment - Price: Free - Rating: 4.70/5 from 623 App Store ratings · 129 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.1 · 31 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2012-12-20 - Data updated: 2026-08-28 - Monetization: ad-supported - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wbez/id587477231/reviews.md ## What is WBEZ? The WBEZ app lets you listen to the news and voices of Chicago on your schedule, wherever you are. Listen to live radio broadcasts, on-demand audio features and podcasts with the best storytelling locally and around the nation. You’ll enjoy original WBEZ Chicago programming and shows from our partners, including NPR, BBC and more. Take your trusted news on the go. Listen to the news live wherever your day takes you. The WBEZ app delivers Chicago news, national news and international news right to your hand. You never have to miss a minute again. You can rewind at any moment and replay any live show from the last week to catch up on anything you missed. With the WBEZ app, continue to get investigative journalism, cultural reporting, news headlines and more on your timeline. Discover something new. Browse through the best audio stories and shows WBEZ Chicago has to offer. Each day, featured stories are curated just for you from our newsroom. Plus, you can find popular podcasts from WBEZ, NPR and other featured partners; including titles such as Curious City, Nerdette, Motive and Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me! There’s something for everyone with the WBEZ app. WBEZ Chicago is listener-supported and Chicago’s NPR news station, one of the largest and most respected public media stations in the country. ## Key features - Live radio streaming - On-demand audio features - Podcast library - Rewind live shows - Curated daily stories - Investigative journalism ## What do users think of WBEZ? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Easy access to live and on-demand content - 👍 Convenient listening experience - 🌐 Accessible from anywhere - 🗞️ Comprehensive news coverage - 🎧 High-quality audio - 📚 Diverse programming **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs - 🔁 Ads interrupting playback - 🔍 Confusing navigation and UI - ⏱️ Playback issues (freezing, skipping) - 🔋 High battery consumption **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashing on launch - Streaming issues on poor internet connections - Push notifications causing app to freeze - Inconsistent behavior when switching between audio sources **Most requested features** - Improved search and content discovery - Sleep timer functionality - Ability to resume playback from where left off - CarPlay and Bluetooth speaker support - More granular access to local news ## Recent user reviews (10 of 129) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wbez/id587477231/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Quality & Consistency *2026-07-21, version 9.3.1* As a Chicago transplant, learning about what is going on every day/week in the city is invaluable. WBEZ makes it easy and accessible, which is why they were the first NPR station I pledged to as a member. My only regret is that I can’t give more! ### 5/5 — Great source of news *2026-07-20, version 9.3.1* Tuning into Wbez at 9am helps me start my day with reliable news. The app is a great resource for accessing local chicago news ### 5/5 — Staying in touch with Chicago from LA *2026-06-01, version 9.3.1* Even though I don't live in Chicago, I like to keep up with Chicago news. Using this app, I can listen to local news, and NPR programs without worrying too much about what time it is two time zones away in Chicago. I can't quite figure out if the news that's inserted before the beginning of a show is from the time that show broadcasted or is completely up-to-date to right now. I think it might be the latter ### 5/5 — Without a doubt the best news on the planet. *2026-05-31, version 9.3.1* Been listening to NPR for 50 years. Covers everything with heart and fair play. ### 5/5 — Well designed *2026-05-29, version 9.3.1* Easy to find and listen to NPR programs and local news. ### 5/5 — My Go-to *2026-05-10, version 9.3.1* For reliable, balanced news as well as feature stories that enhance my Chicagoland life. ### 5/5 — Favorite NPR App *2026-03-30, version 9.2.19* Easily searchable & friendly to navigate. Can find - catch up - & explore favorite programs w/ one hand free to do the things you love to do. I’m a loyal & proud out of state donor to WBEZ. ### 5/5 — Making news accessible *2026-02-20, version 9.2.19* Radio is the best way for me to get the news! I love being able to listen to my favorite segments at the times of day that work for me. ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-02-16, version 9.2.19* I listen every day and it always works flawlessly. ### 5/5 — Love WBEZ *2026-02-05, version 9.2.19* Keeps me aware of the news here at home and abroad. Educational with inspiring stories, arts coverage, and the current coverage needed to be a good citizen is all right here. ## Frequently asked questions about WBEZ ### What does the WBEZ app do? The WBEZ app allows you to listen to Chicago's NPR news station live, on-demand, and through podcasts. It provides access to local, national, and international news, investigative journalism, and cultural reporting from WBEZ and its partners like NPR and BBC. ### What are the key features of the WBEZ app? Key features include live radio streaming, on-demand audio content, a library of podcasts, the ability to rewind live shows to catch up on missed segments, and curated daily stories from the WBEZ newsroom. You can also discover popular shows from WBEZ and its partners. ### Is the WBEZ app free to use? Yes, the WBEZ app is free to download and use. As a listener-supported public media station, WBEZ relies on donations. The app does include advertisements to support its operations. ### What kind of content can I find on the WBEZ app? You can find a wide range of content including live news broadcasts, on-demand audio features, and popular podcasts. This includes original WBEZ Chicago programming, shows from partners like NPR and BBC, investigative journalism, cultural reporting, and news headlines. ### Who is the WBEZ app for? The WBEZ app is designed for anyone interested in staying informed about Chicago news, national and international news, and enjoying high-quality audio storytelling. It's particularly suited for fans of NPR programming and public radio. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 9.3.1 — 2026-05-01 - Upgrade Dependencies - Security Updates - Remove Top Stories section of browse page ### 9.2.19 — 2025-01-29 This release updates the app home screen to radio / live listening, as well as fixing minor bug and updating dependencies. ### 9.2.10 — 2024-02-22 Maintenance release aimed at ensuring your experience with our app remains top-notch. This update brings you the latest upgrades and optimizations. ### 9.1.48 — 2022-12-12 Multiple featured stories are now available through our new discovery carousel over the Browse Screen. Find a full history of our radio highlights through the new Top Stories screen. 24 hour replay has also been introduced for select programs on our Radio Schedule. ### 9.1.39 — 2022-11-16 Latest episodes of The Rundown podcast from WBEZ now surface over the Browse Screen, and play back automatically in select queuing. ## Apps similar to WBEZ | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Otaku News :Anime Manga Comics](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/otaku-news-anime-manga-comics/id6444313620) | — | Free | News | | [Feedit](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/feedit/id6444137580) | 3.7 (3) | Free | News | | [BFM Marseille - news et météo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bfm-marseille-news-et-meteo/id1563874800) | — | Free | News | | [Hamburger Abendblatt – Podcast](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamburger-abendblatt-podcast/id1556217120) | — | Free | News | | [Le COLPORTEUR Drôme Ardèche](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/le-colporteur-drome-ardeche/id1668310780) | — | Free | News | | [Rozana Spokesman](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rozana-spokesman/id6447757160) | — | Free | News | ## More apps by Chicago Public Media, Inc. - [Vocalo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vocalo/id470955202) All apps by Chicago Public Media, Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/379174218 ## Related topics [wbez chicago](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wbez-chicago) · [wbez](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wbez) · [wdcb public radio](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wdcb-public-radio) · [block club chicago nfp](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/block-club-chicago-nfp) · [wabe public broadcasting app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wabe-public-broadcasting-app) · [wabe public broadcasting](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wabe-public-broadcasting) · [cbs chicago](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/cbs-chicago) · [wgn chicago](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wgn-chicago) · [chicago tribune](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/chicago-tribune) · [wbox report](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/wbox-report) --- *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 2026-08-28.*