# WHYY Listen: News & Podcasts — user reviews > 43 indexed App Store user reviews of WHYY Listen by WHYY, Inc., rated 4.90/5 from 2,843 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whyy-listen-news-and-podcasts/id1246315452/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whyy-listen-news-and-podcasts/id1246315452.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 2,567 · 4★ 227 · 3★ 32 · 2★ 8 · 1★ 9 ## What do users think of WHYY Listen? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Fast and efficient - 👍 User-friendly and accessible - 🎉 Great local broadcasting - 💯 Reliable and trustworthy **Cons** - 🐛 Streaming issues and app crashes - 🔋 High battery consumption - 🔧 Needs better troubleshooting guidance **Commonly reported bugs** - Streaming cuts off every 8 minutes - Notifications not working properly - Issues with audio playback and loading **Most requested features** - Ability to pick up where you left off - Chromecast support - More investigative journalism content - Outreach to younger demographics ## Newest reviews (13 of 43) ### 4/5 — After some trouble shooting the android app works fine. *2025-10-14, version 2.2.1* After some frustration with the app shutting off every few minutes I finally found the problem: The battery settings on my tablet would not let the app run in the background. The NPR app section FAQ section does address this. Now that I have the app and android setting correct all is good. The app works great, I wish it wouldn’t pick up where I left off though. That’s frustrating. ### 4/5 — Good potential, bugs with stream *2024-12-18, version 2.1.0* Good potential for a very streamlined and useful app for something I use daily. I’m finding bugs with the stream playing earlier programs or the wrong program. This could also mean I need more time to figure out the app. ### 5/5 — Great improvements! *2024-11-01, version 2.1.0* I love the new app for its accessibility, flexibility, and ease of use. ### 5/5 — Doesn’t load in a timely manner *2024-10-28, version 2.1.0* I have always used the app to listen to WHYY but the new listen app doesn’t work as well. The buffering takes forever and sometimes it doesn’t load at all but just keeps spinning on the support message which usually plays before the live show. I never had any trouble listening to the shows on the other app. Please look into this! I am missing my programs! Thanks. ### 4/5 — LOE *2024-10-19, version 2.0.2* This is a great program. I am glad it is broadcast at 7 and not 6 as it used to be ### 5/5 — As npr goes, it’s fine, but I wish that *2024-10-12, version 2.0.2* As npr goes, it’s fine, but I wish that there would be more investigative journalism, which surely WHYY could find funders to support focused on Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in Pittsburgh, and also programs appealing to young Black people to bring in that demographic , and witch to my knowledge seems to becompletely not only ignored, but the demographics frankly totally unaware of what npr actually stands for, who have never tried to even find it because I’ve never heard of it ### 5/5 — NPR Ap. *2024-10-03, version 2.0.2* I LISTEN TO THIS STATION ALL NIGHT LONG. I REALLY ENJOY WHEN I CAN UTILIZE THE AP SO I DO NOT HAVE TO PLAY MY RADIO WITH BATTERIES. IT IS BETTER WHEN I JUST USE MY IPHONE AND IT PLAYS ALL NIGHT WHEN CHARGING. PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR PROGRAMS. THEY ARE EXCELLENT AND INFORMATIVE. JUDI GITTELMAN ### 5/5 — Control over what I listen to *2024-10-01, version 2.0.2* The new app is great. Maybe a long time coming, but the ability to pause and go back is wonderful. ### 5/5 — New app excels! *2024-09-21* When I opened the WHYY app earlier this week and discovered significantly updated features, I could not have been more delighted! The ability to rewind alone is awesome. But to have a schedule that allows playing a prior hour or prior day ensures that this NPR nerd will not have to miss another favorite program or interesting segment again! And, all the pods in one place! Well done WHYY! ### 5/5 — Love the updated app! *2024-09-18, version 2.0.1* I really appreciate being able to pause and restart the livestream. The app is much more organized, easy to use, and I can keep track of all my favorite shows. Great job! ### 5/5 — A fatal flaw *2024-09-14, version 2.0.1* The new Design is better than old one in every aspect，except a fatal flaw now requiring vpn in China. Was not an issue before, so please fix it. ### 5/5 — Help *2023-06-30, version 1.5.3* I have had the app for years and now it’s stuck and looping on yesterday’s program. I deleted and reloaded and same issue. So I guess it’s my phone but what can I do? ### 4/5 — Why can’t I see what program is playing now? *2022-05-11, version 1.5.2* I see Take Away starts at 11 am. It’s 11:04 and I’m listening to news. Is there some disconnect between what’s playing now (and please tell me what’s playing now) and the stated play schedule? I’m clearing missing something. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Stops Streaming every eight minutes *2025-10-09* Dear WHYY, I love you. I love that Terry Gross is based there. I love that you cover NJ news a hundred times better than WNYC. I’ve donated monthly for ten years. I love that even though I live one mile from Manhattan I can listen, I love that when I’m on the road for weeks at a time I can feel at home. That said, recently I’ve been really mad at you. For some reason your app cuts off every eight minutes. But that’s not just you WHYY, it’s KCRW, WNYC and the NPR app too. It’s a pain to restart the app. I think it started with your update back in June. Please fix this once and for all since it seems I’m not the only one with this problem. ### 1/5 — Nothing plays *2025-03-21, version 2.1.1* I can read articles, but anytime I try to play something like a podcast, it doesn’t work. I deleted and reinstalled the app a few times with the same result. This app is awful. ### 1/5 — Unusable *2024-09-15, version 2.0.1* I’ve been using the earlier app on my phone, using it to listen to the station just as I would use my radio. This new version is too different. I have been a contributor for many decades. This app may end that! Please go back to the more user friendly app. ### 1/5 — Lots of problems *2022-03-27, version 1.5.0* -Audio issues all the time. - From the FM schedule page, none of the links work to individual program pages work ### 1/5 — APP IS BROKEN or has a VIRUS *2020-04-07, version 1.4.7* I love the station BUT I have to download it 5x a day! IT ALWAYS SAYS ERROR after each use. PLEASE FIX THIS BUG IT IS OBNOXIOUS ### 2/5 — WHYY App *2024-09-20, version 2.0.1* Good connection but don’t like listening to the 30 sec paid ad before connecting. WNYC doesn’t put me through that : ) just sayin’. As a monthly sustainer I’d like direct connect w/o the mishigas ### 2/5 — Needs work *2023-12-24, version 1.5.4* I wanted to love this app. Most of the articles open automatically in browser after trying to open in app, which annoys me. App also constantly shows there’s a notification even tho there isn’t. I hate that constant “1” so much that i may just delete the app altogether. When the articles open in the app they’re well laid out and visually the app is pleasing to me but it’s “meh” in performance. ### 2/5 — Terrible technology *2023-06-30, version 1.5.3* Many many problems of clicking and going off line. I have reported it to the station and they sent there is any problem, today, it kept repeating the same 20 seconds of show. I deleted the app and am now trying to reinstall it. No use reporting it to the station who deny they have any problems. ### 2/5 — Glitchy live stream *2022-03-14, version 1.5.0* The app’s live stream seems to reload itself every few minutes. It cuts out and then restarts meaning you end up missing part of the content ### 2/5 — Annoying *2022-01-18, version 1.4.8* Why does it always say I have a notification? ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Awesome *2026-04-27, version 2.2.2* Honest and accurate. Best station in the nation. ### 5/5 — PBS is the best neutral news network *2026-01-26, version 2.2.1* I really enjoy listening to PBS because it offers more national and international news than any other network. I watch news on TV, except FOX because it raises my blood pressure. (Or at least it feels like it. Love PBS & NPR! ### 5/5 — WHYY Every Day *2026-01-21, version 2.2.1* I’m not sure I’d know how to get through the day that WHYY ### 5/5 — Philly staple *2025-11-05, version 2.2.1* Go birds ### 5/5 — Best version of NPR mobile app *2025-10-30, version 2.2.1* Best in class local broadcasting. Also nice because when you bring up the app there’s not an additional, annoying “brought to you by” ad like every other NPR broadcaster app seems to have. I listen to and contribute to WHYY’s Mobile App even though I don’t live in the Philly market. ### 5/5 — Philadelphia Baby *2025-06-28, version 2.2.0* Great app! I used to stream WHYY through Apple Music, but that became unstable. This app is much better. I can also pause anytime and pickup where I left off. ### 5/5 — Trust *2025-05-05, version 2.2.0* There’s not a lot in the news channels I trust or feel I get unbiassed different views from except WHYY radio. It’s NOT sensationalized opinions that’s so scary. Just honest , fact driven, straight forward news. Shows are fun and informative at the same time. I would pay for subscription. Thank you. ### 5/5 — Everything an NPR listener needs *2025-03-26, version 2.1.1* The app works great for all audio including live and recorded podcasts. I’m able to get all my local news as well as national news and radio programming. Thanks WHYY! ### 5/5 — We have been listening to WHYY FOR YEARS! *2025-01-12, version 2.1.1* We rely on WHYY for accurate news, reporting and interesting talk and explanations of things that are going on in the world. We have been supported as a Station for 50 years. ### 5/5 — WHYY Listen *2024-11-29, version 2.1.0* Love that I can listen to my favorite programs & podcasts anywhere in the world --- *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 2026-08-25.*