# LAist vs WBUR

The clearest difference is ads: LAist at none against WBUR's shown. LAist also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and chart position (#194 vs unranked). WBUR's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (41% vs 30%). On price, update cadence, 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.

WBUR holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WBUR has 4K ratings behind it against 655, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of LAist's written reviews are positive against 41% of WBUR's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LAist | WBUR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (655 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/laist/id293825085/reviews) | **[4.8 (4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wbur/id379690847/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 655 | **4K** |
| Positive reviews | 30.0% of reviews | **40.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Best chart rank | **#194** | — |
| Size | 39 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Southern California Public Radio](https://appshunter.io/developer/293825088) | [90.9 WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station](https://appshunter.io/developer/379690850) |

## What reviewers say

### LAist

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

**Currently charting:** #194 Top Free · News (US App Store)

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


### WBUR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wbur/id379690847)

Access trusted news and stories from Greater Boston and beyond with live streams and signature podcasts. Enjoy hourly news briefs, on-demand listening, and offline downloads. Play word games and stay updated on local events.

**Highlights:** Live radio stream with pause/rewind, On-demand listening to signature podcasts, Download episodes for offline playback, Hourly local and national news briefs, Daily word games and news quizzes, Updates on WBUR CitySpace events

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 24/7 access to news and programs
- 👍 Pause, rewind, and resume live streaming
- 💡 Ability to download shows for offline listening
- 👍 Easy to navigate and use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Inconsistent live streaming and buffering issues
- 🐛 Rewind and fast-forward functionality not working as expected
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔍 Cluttered interface with too many buttons

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when switching between audio sources
- Playback does not resume after interruptions like phone calls
- Time slider inaccurate, often showing wrong position in the program

**Requested features**

- Add search functionality to find specific shows or episodes
- Improve sleep timer and alarm clock integration
- Provide an option to disable the opening ad
- Optimize the app for larger screens and modern UI


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LAist free?

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

### Is WBUR free?

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

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

WBUR is rated higher. LAist averages 4.3 out of 5 from 655 ratings, while WBUR averages 4.8 from 4K ratings.

### Do LAist or WBUR have ads?

WBUR shows ads; LAist does not.

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

LAist ships an update monthly, and WBUR monthly. Most recently, LAist was updated on October 31, 2026 and WBUR on November 4, 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.*