# 96.5 The Alternative vs 8K

The clearest difference is ads: 8K at none against 96.5 The Alternative's shown. 8K also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.2). 96.5 The Alternative's advantage is update cadence (every 12 months vs every 34 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and device support 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 ships an update every 12 months, 8K every 34 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 96.5 The Alternative | 8K |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/965-the-alternative/id1046593380/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 12 months** | Every 34 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 12 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Illiad Media Boise, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1521322082) | [Dave Branton](https://appshunter.io/developer/1176828184) |

## 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


### 8K

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8k/id1176828185)

Stream specialist music shows and curated playlists from New Zealand. Enjoy high-fidelity stereo sound with this bare-bones radio application.

**Highlights:** Hi-fi stereo sound, Specialist music shows, Collaborative playlists, Low-tar streaming, Official radio app

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 8K free?

8K is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do 96.5 The Alternative or 8K have ads?

96.5 The Alternative shows ads; 8K does not.

### Which is updated more often, 96.5 The Alternative or 8K?

96.5 The Alternative ships an update every 12 months, and 8K every 34 months. Most recently, 96.5 The Alternative was updated on October 21, 2026 and 8K on October 8, 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.*