# LAist vs KCLU

LAist and KCLU both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 73% of KCLU's written reviews are positive against 30% of LAist's. LAist's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (652 vs 104). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for LAist against 4.4 for KCLU. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LAist has 652 ratings behind it against 104, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 30% of LAist's written reviews are positive against 73% of KCLU's.

LAist ships an update monthly, KCLU every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | LAist | KCLU |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (652 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/laist/id293825085/reviews) | **[4.4 (104 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kclu/id337798223/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **652** | 104 |
| Positive reviews | 30.0% of reviews | **73.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 39 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Southern California Public Radio](https://appshunter.io/developer/293825088) | [California Lutheran University](https://appshunter.io/developer/337798226) |

## What reviewers say

### LAist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/laist/id293825085)

Access Southern California's premier news source for NPR broadcasts, local headlines, and podcasts. Stream live radio, catch up on on-demand programs, and receive breaking news alerts. Stay informed with comprehensive coverage from LAist.com.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, On-demand program archives, Daily news headlines, Breaking news alerts, Sleep timer and alarm clock, Story sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Reliable source of news
- 👍 Vital app for news
- 👍 Fantastic
- 👍 Reliable and unbiased

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Glitchy performance issues
- 🐛 Carplay not working properly
- 🐛 Ads disrupt the listening experience

**Reported bugs**

- Podcasts not loading properly
- Live stream frequently drops out
- Playback issues when switching between apps
- Inconsistent behavior when pausing and resuming
- Sync issues between device and app

**Requested features**

- Add rewind and fast-forward functionality
- Improve CarPlay integration
- Implement a sleep timer
- Enhance podcast playback controls
- Improve organization and discoverability of content


### KCLU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kclu/id337798223)

Listen to live public radio streams, pause and rewind live audio, and explore on-demand content. Bookmark programs for later and use the alarm clock to wake up to your favorite station. Access program schedules and related web pages easily.

**Highlights:** Live streaming with DVR controls, On-demand content library, Program schedule integration, Bookmark live and on-demand programs, Sleep timer and alarm clock, Share stories and programs, Background listening

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great local news content
- 👍 Keeps users connected during emergencies
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 👍 Good for staying updated while traveling
- 👍 Reliable for NPR programming

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent audio cut-outs and buffering
- 🐛 App instability after updates
- 🐛 Poor connectivity issues
- 🐛 Clunky and slow loading
- 🐛 Does not work well with CarPlay

**Reported bugs**

- App keeps cutting out
- App restarts and repeats audio
- App closes unexpectedly
- App is glitchy after updates
- Audio buffers frequently

**Requested features**

- Fix app glitches and bugs
- Improve local news coverage for all areas
- Ensure app works reliably with CarPlay
- Optimize app for faster loading
- Address connectivity issues


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LAist free?

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

### Is KCLU free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LAist or KCLU?

KCLU is rated higher. LAist averages 4.3 out of 5 from 652 ratings, while KCLU averages 4.4 from 104 ratings.

### Do LAist or KCLU have ads?

Neither LAist nor KCLU shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LAist or KCLU?

LAist ships an update monthly, and KCLU every 5 months. Most recently, LAist was updated on October 23, 2026 and KCLU on October 23, 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.*