# WFMT — user reviews > 50 indexed App Store user reviews of WFMT by WFMT, rated 3.70/5 from 62 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wfmt/id318523479/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wfmt/id318523479.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 27 · 4★ 12 · 3★ 7 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 7 ## Newest reviews (19 of 50) ### 3/5 — Outdated App *2026-01-04, version 8.6* It is 2026. Streaming technology has progressed to the point an”app” should function without dropouts. It is time to update beyond 1999 performance. This is an old “app” that is buggy and has issues with dropping out. ### 3/5 — Outdated App *2025-09-14* This is an old app that is buggy. Has issues with dropping out. ### 2/5 — ate battery *2025-05-30, version 8.5* Got this app yesterday. Worked fine. listened for a while and stopped it. A few hours later my phone got a low power alert. Battery said it was the wfmt app. Have to kill it when you stop listening. ### 2/5 — Great station, poor app *2024-11-22, version 8.4* I love the station, but this app is substandard. Streaming is so incredibly touchy that any interruption, however momentary (phone call, turning off audio output device, alarm, etc.) causes a stoppage, which necessitates a relaunch. This makes the app’s on-demand feature basically worthless. ### 2/5 — The app compresses musics heavily and no joy to listen. *2022-08-19, version 7.9* The WFMT website streaming has much higher quality. If you enjoy classic music, please DON’T use this app, DO streaming from WFMT website. The app heavily compresses musics - sounding flat and losing sound stage. ### 3/5 — High battery usage since iOs 15.4 update *2022-05-02* The app is taking a lot of battery juice since iOs 15.4 update and would need to be corrected. ### 3/5 — Out of sync or…? *2022-01-06, version 7.8* The title displayed of the music playing doesn’t match the music. I’ll delete and reload. ### 3/5 — Ads *2021-04-12, version 7.7* Far too many ads, gets to a ridiculous point and after a while is simply worth listening to Spotify. ### 4/5 — Need More Exploring Music w Bill McLaughlin archives *2020-09-27, version 7.6* To the app developers: Please, please please find a way for us to access the entire archive of “Exploring Music with Bill McLaughlin” on this app. I’ve tried to access the archive on the web, and if you pause the web version it reverts right to the beginning again, making it impossible to get through an entire episode without the ability to pause it! The app version works well, and doesn’t have that problem with the pausing/resuming making you start all over at the beginning, but I can only seem to access the last episode aired, not the entirety of the episodes or even, let’s say, more than one episode. Please either fix this issue on the web version, or make the archive of all episodes available on the app. Thank you!! ### 2/5 — Cutting out *2020-08-13, version 7.6* This app cuts out so often , it is a blot on WFMT. 30 seconds, cuts off. The hell with it!! You obviously don’t want criticism you keep rejecting my , so called “name.” ### 2/5 — Constant crashing *2020-05-04, version 7.5* As seems to have been the case for years, this app is very finicky. Any disturbance in the force, and the app stops playing. It never resumes on its own; human intervention is always required. Unfortunately, the broadcast signal in my area is also often awful, so quite the Hobson’s choice. ### 2/5 — Music great, app terrible *2020-03-04, version 7.5* Can’t go 20 minutes without the stream freezing and usually requires human intervention to restart it ### 4/5 — Music stops unexpectedly *2019-01-30, version 7.3* I love this app. My only complaint is that the live stream cuts out so often that I’ve come to expect it. I really wish this could be fixed in future updates as it’s jarring to go from marvelous music to silence without explanation. ### 3/5 — Weak app *2018-02-09, version 7.1* Joining with the others as to the need to re-engineer this app. It inexplicably quits too frequently. Today I tried the WCRB app for Boston. My iPhone 6+ kept the signal down the hall to the floor laundry! That was after WFMT “died” and wouldn’t come back until a phone reboot. ### 4/5 — I love WFMT, the station! But the app... *2018-02-06, version 7.1* The station is awesome! Carl Grapentine & Candice Agree on one stage? What amazing knowledge, voices and intellects! You are two such different people, and yet you keep the flame alive - music for the mind, body, and spirit delivered to Everyman. It is not just for the salon, but also the construction site. I should know about the latter; it actually happens! :o) All kidding aside, the app is pretty good, but it does require some attention. Just my humble opinion, but I believe these fixes would get consistent 5-star ratings: First, Lately, my livestream title has been stuck on a Violin Concerto by Max Bruch, a lovely piece of music, but it has not told me what has been playing since then. Why would this happen? I will trying deleting and reloading the app, but it is taking a long time... Second, And while on the subject of what has been playing, how about a playlist? You know, what was just on, what’s on now, coming up, etc.? Third, And then how about a recommended deep dive on each selection, starting with concert notes from recent performances around the world. I am sure the CSO or LFS would be happy to lend their notes to the effort (with proper citation of course), and fill in from other organizations, near and far. We have to stick together! ### 2/5 — Wish it worked.. *2017-07-04, version 7.1* But it only streams for 10-15 minutes tops before discontinuing the stream. Got the app after visiting Chicago last year to hear Mahler 2 at Ravinia. Trying to listen to July 4 programming today, but it's too big a hassle to continually restart the app. My wifi is strong and fast, so that's not the issue. ### 2/5 — Needs playlist info *2017-05-26, version 7.1* Often, I'm in my car and have to get out before a piece ends. If it's unfamiliar, I have to remember to go to my computer to look it up at the main WFMT site. Playlists are the only reason I would install this app. ### 2/5 — Simple app that keeps stopping *2016-05-29, version 7.0* Full marks for beautiful simplicity in design. There's a big play button. Hit it, get music. Unfortunately the app frequently stops playing, requiring a manual restart. Does it need a bigger cache or better interrupt handling? Does WFMT need better servers? ### 2/5 — Still not functional *2016-05-21, version 7.0* Strange that I can stream HD movies on Netflix but can't get uninterrupted radio on my wifi. Have to assume it's simply not working. Digital streaming and HDradio aren't ideal for classical anyhow, makes instruments sound 'steely' like listening through a tin can. Rock music already is produced that way so 95% of the population doesn't care. Best is a HDradio you can force into analog mode. Only Macintosh makes one now 😰 ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Stops for no reason and drains battery *2024-09-24, version 8.4* Terrible glitches please fix ### 1/5 — Disruptions! *2020-01-19, version 7.5* This ap stops playing every few minutes and need constant reloading. When the bugs were fixed, something was missed or a new bug created. Please fix this so I can enjoy WFMT again - uninterrupted! ### 1/5 — Love station hate app *2019-09-25, version 7.4* Constant crashes ### 1/5 — Constantly shuts down *2019-09-21, version 7.4* Great station.. only if you’re listening on an FM radio, unfortunately the app is unstable because it crashes roughly every 30 seconds. Similar to streaming on the wfmt site ### 1/5 — Poor app *2017-01-08, version 7.1* The app provides no information about what is being performed. It cuts out after a few minutes. Worthless. ### 1/5 — Disappointed *2016-07-03, version 7.0* For as much as I love the radio channel music and programs, the app is sadly disappointing. Suspect streaming, no titles, links that go nowhere etc. It's Chicago, what do you expect? ### 1/5 — Surprising disappointment *2016-05-12, version 7.0* I love WFMT. I used to listen live on my iPad from WFMT website using the browser. Installed this app, but won't play live stream. The circle thingy just keeps going around forever. Surprised when everything else about WFMT is world class. ### 1/5 — Latest version is very pretty but doesn't stream *2015-10-07, version 7.0* The latest version of this app is attractive but it won't stream the station. Instead it shows a blue line going around in a circle but the stream never starts up. I love WFMT but this app is useless. ### 1/5 — Drops the stream *2015-02-27, version 3.0* This app's main job is to stream music. It is infuriatingly unable to do that in a consistent manner. Stream drops, app is unresponsive, have to entirely quit & start over. Switched to Public Radio Player & my troubles are over. ### 1/5 — Useless *2014-09-02, version 3.0* This app is in serious need of updating. You're better off going with TuneIn or PRX. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great App *2020-03-12, version 7.5* I’ve had this app for a while, and I love it! It works great, and I can listen to WFMT wherever I am. I listen to the app when I’m at work, and it’s just a great way to unwind. ### 5/5 — 17-Aug-19 - Folk Stage and Midnight Special *2019-08-18, version 7.3* Very good news: WFMT app now contains in-app access to Folk Stage and Midnight Special “archives.” Generally speaking, that would be the previous week’s Midnight Special, played as a three hour continuous loop, and three or four of the most recent Folk Stage performances “on demand.” I’m returning to this app after having lapsed several years ago. The original app was very limited and only had the main WFMT stream, and not much else. As a result, I switched to Tune In (an excellent choice for nearly all classical and public radio stations) because, among other things, I had access to the “archives” through what Tune In calls “custom URLs.” Finally, there is no more need for another app to listen to the Folk Stage and Midnight Special archives. Finally, a “one stop shop” for everything WFMT. ### 5/5 — Great! *2017-02-08, version 7.1* Works well for me. The best radio station. ### 5/5 — My station on the island. *2012-02-18, version 3.0* Love it love it love it ### 5/5 — Works for me *2011-08-02, version 3.0* Works just fine for me and the price is right. Simple and good sound quality on 3G--have not tried it on WiFi. I am very pleased to have easy access to WFMT while I'm outside of Chicago! ### 5/5 — Works great - free *2010-11-08, version 0* Simple click and listen app. Ads scrolling on the bottom of the screen do not bother me, and are not visible at all while using other iPod applications with WFMT running in the background. ### 5/5 — Great! *2010-01-23, version 0* Great station and great app. The "planet" icon allows you to go to the station's main web site while you listen. Highly recommend. ### 5/5 — As radio apps should be... *2009-10-18, version 0* push the button (icon) and you get it. ...And what you get is one of the three or four best fine arts radio stations in the english-speaking world. ### 5/5 — Flawless *2009-10-13, version 0* A stunning radio station on the go. Spectacular quality, this free App speaks for itself. Five well-deserved stars of approval. I love you all and your music. Keep it up! ### 4/5 — Chicago’s Best Classical* music *2020-10-25, version 7.6* Can’t live without this station. The depth and variety keep you listening. The iPad Pro app virtual volume slider no longer works in the app; it works only from the iPad unlock screen or manual controls. Please fix that. --- *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 2026-06-10.*