Comparison

Broadcasts vs Now Playing Plus

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Broadcasts

Stream internet radio stations from around the world with an intuitive, single-purpose application. Enjoy beautiful artwork, metadata, and cross-device syncing. Offers a free tier with a limited library or a full version for unlimited stations and advanced features.

Highlights
  • Global internet radio streaming
  • Unlimited station library (full version)
  • Station artwork and metadata display
  • Shazam integration for metadata
  • iCloud library syncing
  • CarPlay support
  • Apple Watch and Apple TV playback
Features
Read full description

Listen to streaming internet radio in an ultra-simple, single-purpose app. Broadcasts makes building a library of stations from around the world easier than ever — no subscription required. Use completely free with a limited-size library of stations, or upgrade to the full version to unlock the library limit and add as many of your own stations as you like from the Station Browser, or manually via URL. Search for stations from around the world as easily as from your own library.  Showcase gorgeous station and track artwork (for supported stations) with the all-new Now Playing screen. Use Shazam (Beta) to power the Now Playing screen with artwork and metadata for stations that do not provide it, or simply to provide an ambient Now Playing experience for music playing nearby. Show the currently playing artwork and metadata on external displays if you want an all-screen experience. Sync your library across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV with iCloud & Universal Purchase. Browse stations in grid or list view. Listen in Light or Dark mode. Edit stations to provide your own artwork, or use the Artwork Chooser to generate something fun and colorful. Thoughtful mouse, trackpad & keyboard support provides a great experience on iPad. Perform common tasks from the Command menu, and control playback using keyboard shortcuts. Use Handoff to transfer playback between devices, or AirPlay directly to a home speaker. Listen with just your Apple Watch (Cellular) while out and about, or on Apple TV at home. Supports CarPlay on certified devices; stream internet radio on your CarPlay-enabled head unit directly. Automate playback using Shortcuts.

About

Now Playing Plus

Enhance your Apple Watch face with convenient audio controls. This app adds corner and circular complications, allowing quick access to playback functions without navigating through menus.

Highlights
  • Corner complications
  • Circular complications
  • Audio controls
  • Quick access
  • Customizable watch face
Features
Read full description

Now Playing Plus provides corner and circular complications for your Apple Watch face. This gives you easy access to audio controls, without needed to hunt around in the App List or Dock.

Screenshots

Broadcasts4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Broadcasts at 4.7 against Now Playing Plus's 3.7. Broadcasts also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (930 vs 51). Now Playing Plus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.4). On price, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Broadcasts sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Now Playing Plus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Broadcasts holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Broadcasts has 930 ratings behind it against 51, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Broadcasts's written reviews are positive against 71% of Now Playing Plus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Broadcasts ships an update monthly, Now Playing Plus every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Broadcasts versus Now Playing Plus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBroadcastsNow Playing Plus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (930 ratings) — better3.7 (51 ratings)
Positive reviews74.8% of reviews — better71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings930 — better51
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.413.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB1 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperSteven Troughton-SmithThe Iconfactory

Customer experience

Broadcasts

All ratings930 ratings
Positive92.6%
Neutral2.5%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews412 reviews
Positive74.8%
Neutral7.0%
Negative18.2%

Now Playing Plus

All ratings51 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral2.0%
Negative31.4%
Written reviews49 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral4.1%
Negative24.5%

Bugs and requests

Broadcasts

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Syncing issues causing data loss
  • Playback issues on CarPlay and macOS
  • Inconsistent behavior when changing stations

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved global station search
  • Genre-based station browsing
  • Easier custom station addition
  • Airplay and Siri integration
  • Sleep timer and alarm clock functionality

Now Playing Plus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Broadcasts

One-time1
  • Unlock All Features$7.99
None

Now Playing Plus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Broadcasts free?
Broadcasts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Now Playing Plus free?
Now Playing Plus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Broadcasts or Now Playing Plus?
Broadcasts is rated higher. Broadcasts averages 4.7 out of 5 from 930 ratings, while Now Playing Plus averages 3.7 from 51 ratings.
Do Broadcasts or Now Playing Plus have ads?
Neither Broadcasts nor Now Playing Plus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Broadcasts or Now Playing Plus?
Broadcasts ships an update monthly, and Now Playing Plus every 9 months. Most recently, Broadcasts was updated on October 1, 2026 and Now Playing Plus on September 30, 2026.

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