Comparison

NanoRadio vs SUB/WAVE

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

Head to head
About

NanoRadio

This minimalist audio streaming tool allows users to import and play their own custom audio or radio stream URLs. Enjoy seamless listening with features like preset management, Apple Watch integration, and a sleep timer, all within a distraction-free interface.

Highlights
  • Custom stream import
  • Preset management
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Home screen widgets
  • Sleep timer
  • Minimalist UI with dark mode
Features
Read full description

NanoRadio is a powerful, minimalist audio streaming tool designed for pure playback efficiency. Built from the ground up to provide a seamless listening experience, it allows you to bring your own audio streams and listen anywhere. Please note: NanoRadio is solely a playback tool. It does not provide, host, or distribute any copyrighted music or radio resources. Users must provide their own legally obtained streaming URLs. Key Features: • Custom Stream Import: Easily add your own audio or radio stream URLs (supports MP3, AAC, M3U8, etc.) and start listening instantly. • Preset Management: Save your favorite streams to quick-access preset slots for one-tap playback. • Apple Watch Integration: Control playback or listen directly from your wrist with our standalone Watch app. • Home Screen Widgets: Start playing your favorite presets directly from your desktop. • Sleep Timer: Fall asleep to your favorite audio streams with a customizable auto-stop timer. • Dark Mode & Minimal UI: A completely redesigned, distraction-free interface that supports dynamic theming. • Bedside Mode: Turn your iPhone into a nightstand radio clock. A full-screen, dimmable night clock shows the time alongside the station you're listening to, with large play / previous / next controls and a sleep timer that fades out automatically. Choose from three layouts (overview, minimal clock, or clock with a player bar) and a warm night color that's easy on the eyes in the dark — usable even when it isn't charging (charging overnight recommended). • CarPlay support: browse your stations and favorites right on your car's display, tap to play, and control playback (play/pause, previous/next station) from the dashboard. Perfect for listening to the radio while you drive. • WAKE WITH RADIO Fall asleep to the radio, wake up to it too. In bedside mode, set a time and NanoRadio starts your chosen station at exactly that moment — a gentle, familiar way to wake up instead of a harsh alarm tone. Pick any station, or simply let it resume the one you were listening to. If the station can't be reached — no signal, or the stream is down — a built-in tone takes over, so you're never left oversleeping. Together with the sleep timer, your bedside clock now handles both ends of the night: it stops the radio when you drift off, and starts it again when it's time to get up.

About

SUB/WAVE

Experience radio reborn with a single, shared audio stream. An AI DJ curates the music, provides commentary, and announces station IDs, creating a communal listening experience without playlists or algorithms. Enjoy seamless playback across devices and even request songs.

Highlights
  • AI DJ curates music and commentary
  • Single shared audio stream for all users
  • No playlist building or algorithmic personalization
  • Seamless playback with lock screen and CarPlay controls
  • Create and tune into custom SUB/WAVE broadcasts
  • Live visualizer and song information
  • Song and mood requests
Features
Read full description

Remember radio? One signal, everyone hearing the same song at the same moment. SUB/WAVE is that. No playlist to build, no algorithm studying you. You press play and join whatever's already on the air. A DJ runs the station. It's an AI, but it does what a good DJ does: picks the next track, reads the station ID, checks the weather, says something on the way into the song. It never just cuts between tracks in silence. Start it and you're live. Lock the phone, switch apps, get in the car, and it keeps playing, with controls on the lock screen, your headphones, and CarPlay. POINT IT AT ANY STATION It opens on the public station, but it'll play any SUB/WAVE broadcast. Run your own off your music library and paste the address to tune in. Saved a few? Switch between them whenever you like. WHAT'S IN IT • Now playing, with cover art and a live visualiser • The booth — every pick, station ID, and segment as it goes out • Timeline — scroll back through what's played • Requests — send the DJ a track or a mood, hear it answered on air • Schedule — what's coming up • Themes that recolour the whole app to match the station One stream. No skip. It's radio, not a playlist.

Screenshots

NanoRadio4 screens
SUB/WAVE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SUB/WAVE at 5.0 against NanoRadio's 4.0. SUB/WAVE also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). NanoRadio's advantage is device support (5 vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model 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. NanoRadio sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SUB/WAVE asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SUB/WAVE holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of NanoRadio's written reviews are positive against 100% of SUB/WAVE's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NanoRadio ships an update every 3 weeks, SUB/WAVE weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
NanoRadio versus SUB/WAVE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNanoRadioSUB/WAVE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (5 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB68 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer恒俭 董Perminder Singh Klair

Customer experience

NanoRadio

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

SUB/WAVE

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

NanoRadio

One-time1
  • Unlock Pro Features$2.99
None

SUB/WAVE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NanoRadio free?
NanoRadio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SUB/WAVE free?
SUB/WAVE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NanoRadio or SUB/WAVE?
SUB/WAVE is rated higher. NanoRadio averages 4.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while SUB/WAVE averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do NanoRadio or SUB/WAVE have ads?
Neither NanoRadio nor SUB/WAVE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NanoRadio or SUB/WAVE?
NanoRadio ships an update every 3 weeks, and SUB/WAVE weekly. Most recently, NanoRadio was updated on October 8, 2026 and SUB/WAVE on October 1, 2026.

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