# 96.5 The Alternative vs The Light.live

The clearest difference is rating: 96.5 The Alternative at 4.9 against The Light.live's 4.0. 96.5 The Alternative also leads on ratings volume (8 vs 2). The Light.live's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

96.5 The Alternative holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 2 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 12 months. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | 96.5 The Alternative | The Light.live |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/965-the-alternative/id1046593380/reviews)** | [4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-lightlive/id1100321559/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 12 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | 18.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Illiad Media Boise, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1521322082) | [CLI Media & Radio Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1075990681) |

## What reviewers say

### 96.5 The Alternative

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/965-the-alternative/id1046593380)

This app provides access to Boise's exclusive Alternative music station, focusing solely on playing music from popular Alternative artists. It offers a politics-free and no-nonsense listening experience for fans of the genre.

**Highlights:** Exclusive Alternative music, Boise's only Alternative station, Politics-free content, Focus on popular artists, Music-centric experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Light.live

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-lightlive/id1100321559)

This app offers a blend of traditional and contemporary inspirational music, alongside specialized programming. It aims to inspire, uplift, and encourage listeners of all ages through its updated digital platform.

**Highlights:** Traditional and contemporary inspirational music, Specialized programming, Updated digital platforms, Inspiring content, Uplifting messages, Encouraging atmosphere

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 96.5 The Alternative free?

96.5 The Alternative is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Light.live free?

The Light.live is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 96.5 The Alternative or The Light.live?

96.5 The Alternative is rated higher. 96.5 The Alternative averages 4.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while The Light.live averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do 96.5 The Alternative or The Light.live have ads?

96.5 The Alternative shows ads; The Light.live does not.

### Which is updated more often, 96.5 The Alternative or The Light.live?

96.5 The Alternative ships an update every 12 months, and The Light.live every 12 months. Most recently, 96.5 The Alternative was updated on November 2, 2026 and The Light.live on November 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*