# WBUR — user reviews > 108 indexed App Store user reviews of WBUR by 90.9 WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station, rated 4.90/5 from 4,020 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wbur/id379690847/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wbur/id379690847.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 3,569 · 4★ 362 · 3★ 51 · 2★ 19 · 1★ 19 ## What do users think of WBUR? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 24/7 access to news and programs - 👍 Pause, rewind, and resume live streaming - 💡 Ability to download shows for offline listening - 👍 Easy to navigate and use **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes - 🐛 Inconsistent live streaming and buffering issues - 🐛 Rewind and fast-forward functionality not working as expected - 🔋 High battery consumption - 🔍 Cluttered interface with too many buttons **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes when switching between audio sources - Playback does not resume after interruptions like phone calls - Time slider inaccurate, often showing wrong position in the program **Most requested features** - Add search functionality to find specific shows or episodes - Improve sleep timer and alarm clock integration - Provide an option to disable the opening ad - Optimize the app for larger screens and modern UI ## Newest reviews (11 of 108) ### 2/5 — Consistently stalls *2024-12-17, version 6.4* It is really frustrating to be in the middle of an important story and the app just stops. Sometimes it restarts after a few minutes but more often I need to close the app and restart it. Sometimes even that doesn’t work. As a dues paying member for 30+ years, I am annoyed. ### 2/5 — Long time member, but… *2024-12-17, version 6.4* I listen still to WBUR almost daily despite having moved from Boston 20 years ago. However, while I like supporting them through an App and having access to the podcasts and stream, the App feels like it was put together 10 years ago and it consumes an enormous amount of CPU and battery. I have become more concerned about using badly written, battery inefficient apps now that I have not been charging my phone during the day in many years. Sadly, there are other options to listen to the podcast and streams so, please put a little effort into the App. Ideally, use native APIs, frameworks, with a decent iOS like UI (or one that just feels modern). But for now, I’ll listen elsewhere… ### 2/5 — Unreliable connectivity *2024-01-26, version 6.0* Despite a good connection by phone or WiFi reception goes in and out - especially when moving ### 4/5 — Search? *2023-10-22, version 5.8* Hi - not a review as much as a feature request. Being able to search for an espisode at the BUR or show level would be great (an example searching either Fresh Air Marc Ronson, or just Marc Ronson interview) Thanks ### 4/5 — Great programming but.. *2023-09-30, version 5.7* I wish your app had a direct way to save or download the running program. ### 3/5 — Getting better, but not there yet *2023-08-25* They fixed the crashing issues I was having in the previous version. However, there is another issue that is annoying. If you are listening, live, and then switch out to another app that has audio the WBUR app will stop at the place when you switched. When you come back to the app, there is no buffering it happened and you pick up right where you left off. You cannot skip ahead to catch up. However, if you pause the audio before you switch to another app, it will and when you switch back to the app, you can catch up **Developer response:** Hi, I apologize the app hasn't met your expectations to date. The latest version (5.6) improved rewind and fast forward functionality and improved overall app stability. ### 3/5 — Hangs *2023-08-17, version 5.6* This week I’ve have to give up on using the app several times. It frequently just hangs, “thinking” when I open it. Is it the new ad server that makes me listen to the sponsor’s blurb before I can get to the live feed? I don’t know. Frustrating. I’m a monthly donor because I listen to WBUR every day and want to give a little back, but now it’s a source of frustration. The older, simpler app was problem-free ### 2/5 — Just when I thought it was working well… *2023-08-16, version 5.6* Well now much of the time it doesn’t work! I get a message that tells me that “Something went wrong.” As I was writing this review, I went back to the app and it started working but then stopped again. I noticed that when I drag the slider back from the present, the fine print tells me I’m thousands of minutes behind. Am I the only one with these issues?? I gave 2 stars instead of 1 because I love WBUR; I just hate the app! ### 4/5 — Much better but still some problems *2023-06-30* I thought all the problems were solved, but today I realized that the time given to catch up to Live was off by at least 1/2 hour. And when I forwarded it with the 15 second arrow, it was still behind even when it was supposedly Live. ### 4/5 — Great function, rips through battery *2023-06-14, version 5.6* There is some great functionality upgrades in new update, such as not auto-pausing when switching Bluetooth source, and holding in cache programs once they conclude. My biggest complaints are bugs in the skip back and ahead functions, and it’s energy consumption. Frequently I hit back 10 seconds to repeat something and it brings me to a completely different part of the show. Also, streaming live, on wifi or network, just rips through my fairly new, healthy battery, about 25% of battery per hour. That said, I love NPR, WBUR, and the ability to pause and rewind live programming has transformed my morning ritual. ### 3/5 — Better since last update *2023-06-09, version 5.6* I did prefer the old logo, though ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Used to be great, now it’s terrible *2025-10-25, version 6.12* Why did you ruin an app that worked well? 9 times out of 10, the Listen Now doesn’t work because it gets stuck on the Message from our sponsors and won’t play anything. It’s almost useless. I will say, the 1 time out of 10 tries when it does play, it has my favorite feature which is to pause and rewind the livestream. Which your competitor across town doesn’t have in their app. ### 1/5 — Pop-Up Ads *2025-09-03, version 6.9* A few hours after installing, this app, which represents non-profit, non commercial radio, displayed a spammy pop-up ad from one of their sponsors. I’m deleting this app now. ### 1/5 — Stopping alarm now also stops app play *2025-06-01* Whenever an alarm rings while I’m listening to WBUR, WBUR’s audio pauses while the alarm rings. This has been the case for a long time and is correct behavior. It used to be that when I stopped the alarm, WBUR automatically resumed playing (mostly, although every once in a while it wouldn’t resume and I would have to hit WBUR’s play button). Since the release of a couple of days ago, when I stop the alarm, WBUR *never* resumes playing. I *always* have to hit its play button, which means that I have to pick up the phone and look at it instead of just pressing one of the physical buttons on the phone without even looking. Playback fails to resume regardless of whether I hit the alarm’s stop or resume button or I stop it with a physical button. Also, it now fails to automatically resume play after being interrupted by a phone call. I can see that playback is *trying* to resume - WBUR’s play/pause button flips twice, which means that playback is resuming but then it instantly re-pauses itself. Please fix this bug! ### 1/5 — Stopping alarm now also stops app play *2025-05-30* Whenever an alarm rings while I’m listening to WBUR, WBUR’s audio pauses while the alarm rings. This has been the case for a long time and is correct behavior. It used to be that when I stopped the alarm, WBUR automatically resumed playing (mostly, although every once in a while it wouldn’t resume and I would have to hit WBUR’s play button). Since the release of a couple of days ago, when I stop the alarm, WBUR *never* resumes playing. I *always* have to hit its play button, which means that I have to pick up the phone and look at it instead of just pressing one of the physical buttons on the phone without even looking. Playback fails to resume regardless of whether I hit the alarm’s stop or resume button or I stop it with a physical button. I can see that playback is *trying* to resume - WBUR’s play/pause button flips twice, which means that playback is resuming but then it instantly re-pauses itself. Please fix this bug! ### 1/5 — Sleeps With My Phone!!!! *2024-04-15, version 6.1* This used to be an app that I could start up and then put my phone in a charging stand while I listened. Now, once my phone goes to sleep, so does the app, interrupting my listening! If it has something to do with the “sleep” settings, I guess I’m too stupid, because nothing helps I guess I’ll have to give up until the next revision, but this version of the app is useless ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work at all *2024-03-28, version 6.0* I was forced to do an upgrade a few days ago, and I haven’t been able to listen since. All it does is spin. there was a brief. One evening when I could listen for a short period of time and then it stopped. And when I tried to restart it it went back to spinning.I use the old app for years and it worked great mostly except for a few periods of time when there were issues of it shutting itself down, but it had been working fine recently. I hope this issue gets fixed because I miss listening. ### 1/5 — Another update that breaks things *2023-09-30, version 5.7* Supposedly, they fixed the fast forward and rewind issues. However, when I switch out of the app and come back in, I can no longer press play to resume the audio. I have to hit either the rewind or fast-forward button to get audio to play. How much QA is being done on this app? Also, can you please edit out the money begging from the news podcast versions of the shows? I am listening to the Friday episode during the fundraiser week and I swear that half of the podcast is them begging for money. I don’t mind supporting BUR or NPR, but I don’t want to hear it on the podcast. ### 1/5 — Well the app is broken again! *2023-08-23, version 5.6* This app constantly crashes! Move from one router to the booster router at home, it crashes. Move from Wifi to LTE or what is fake 5G, it crashes. The phone rings, it crashes that’s this morning in 20 minutes of listening! Get your app right WBUR. This new rendition of the app is trash compared to a year or two ago when you had the previous app. And, no, it’s not the updates. I update regularly. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t play *2023-06-21, version 5.6* Hit play, nothing happens. Deleted app, redownloaded, allowed bluetooth, etc. Doesn’t work!!! ### 1/5 — Horrible *2023-05-04, version 5.5* I am deleting the app from my phone and pausing my $1200 annual donations until there is a version that doesn’t ask for money every time I launch it. The rest of the app is terrible with bookmarks, etc. But I assume that will get fixed over time. Good bye for now… ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — 24/7 We Listen! *2025-05-15, version 6.5* The best way to stay current with our country and the world’s news and events. ### 5/5 — True Truth *2025-01-10, version 6.4* One should not have to say in-depth substantive reporting is refreshing, but it needs to be said, and WBUR delivers on this: No filler, no slant, just the facts with relevant details that help listeners understand what’s happening in our world. ### 5/5 — WBUR Programación Inteligente y Educativa *2024-06-23, version 6.1* El programa de José Masó lo escucho en Puerto Rico, Con Salsa. Disfruto mucho. Otros programas que ofrece WBUR aparte de noticias mundiales, también tiene espacios de muy interesantes temas y diversos sobre las tendencias actuales tanto científicas, culturales y sociales. Aquí podemos incluir invitados y diálogos importantes. Además la programación de PBS, Noticias del ámbito mundial, europeo árabe centroamericano y países orientales son espacios que edifican mi conocimiento del mundo actual en que vivo. Otros programas decarácter (“Witty”) son inclusive muy interesantes. También provéen programación en cuanto a memoria musical clásica instantánea de los oyentes. WBUR La considero un foco de iluminación intelectual en muchos sentidos pues abarca grandes dimensiones. Roberto Juliá 🙋🏼‍♂️ ### 5/5 — The Best News And An All Round Educatoon *2024-05-07, version 6.1* I’ve been subscribing on my own and through my employer (Raytheon) for over thirty years and plan on contributing for thirty more. Keep up the, “Good” work WBUR! ### 5/5 — Great source of balanced news *2024-03-26, version 6.0* I find the news programs to be factual, balanced and thought provoking. Given all the noise, fake news and distortions of science that surrounds us, WBUR is a safe haven where the information can be trusted and is reliable. Whether you agree with their opinions or the subject matter that they stress , WBUR does not fabricate or distort. Critical that this source of information not only survive but thrive. ### 5/5 — WBUR APP *2024-02-18, version 6.0* I like the ease with which I can be in touch with the news anywhere I might be….at work, at home or away on vacation. The App enables me to receive my favorite programs anywhere, anytime. ### 5/5 — From start to finish *2023-10-17, version 5.8* I love that if I start the program late, I can go back to the beginning and listen to the entire show. ### 5/5 — Plausible *2023-08-23, version 5.7* The ability to pause or return to live is an excellent feature! ### 5/5 — Thank you for fixing the new app's issues! *2023-06-15, version 5.6* Updated review: The new fixes do indeed work - thank you so much!! The rewind and fast forward seem to be working very well now, including on a locked screen. So lovely to have this functionality back! Old review from January 2023 - 2 stars) The old app was the best one I’ve seen for any local NPR station across the country - and the live pause/rewind feature was one of the biggest reasons. As others have said, that continues not to work on locked screen, and I’m sometimes having issues with it on unlocked screen too. There are other bugs you (and yes, the ad every time you open it isn’t fun, but I can live with it) but that’s the functioning issue that is the most problematic. Such a shame to replace what was a great app with this, and like others who’ve commented I’ve been a sustaining member, with automatic monthly contributions to the station, for many years. Please, please restore this feature to its full abilities as it was in the last app!! ### 5/5 — New version does not crash! *2023-06-08, version 5.6* Updated - with latest version all of the issues are resolved! Have updated to 5 stars Old review: I don’t know why this app has such high reviews. It crashes for me multiple times whoever I use it. It seems triggered by either skipping ahead or back. 3 stars because it still beats live only playback. --- *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 2026-09-06.*