# LAist vs WNYC

The clearest difference is monetization model: LAist at free against WNYC's free with in-app purchases. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

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

WNYC holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 652 and 794 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of LAist's written reviews are positive against 31% of WNYC's.

LAist ships an update monthly, WNYC every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | LAist | WNYC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (652 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/laist/id293825085/reviews) | **[4.5 (794 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wnyc/id470219771/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 652 | **794** |
| Positive reviews | 30.0% of reviews | **31.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Southern California Public Radio](https://appshunter.io/developer/293825088) | [New York Public Radio](https://appshunter.io/developer/396530754) |

## 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


### WNYC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wnyc/id470219771)

Access live and on-demand news, commentary, culture, storytelling, and music from New York's public radio station and its partners. Save podcasts for offline listening and stay updated on local and national headlines.

**Highlights:** Live broadcast streaming, On-demand news and commentary, Podcast saving for offline listening, Local and national headline updates, Music live streams

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great station, great app
- 📻 Excellent content and programming
- 🌐 Access to WNYC anywhere
- 🔍 Helpful discovery features
- 🔊 Reliable live streaming

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy, buggy, and unstable
- 🔇 Frequent audio issues and disconnects
- 🔁 Struggles to resume playback after interruptions
- 🔍 Confusing navigation and UI
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Audio stream stops unexpectedly
- Playback controls not working
- Saved content disappearing
- Connectivity issues with cellular and WiFi

**Requested features**

- Bring back sleep timer
- Improve podcast playback and resume functionality
- Add background audio support
- Optimize UI for newer iPhone models
- Implement better connectivity handling


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LAist free?

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

### Is WNYC free?

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

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

WNYC is rated higher. LAist averages 4.3 out of 5 from 652 ratings, while WNYC averages 4.5 from 794 ratings.

### Do LAist or WNYC have ads?

Neither LAist nor WNYC shows ads.

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

LAist ships an update monthly, and WNYC every 2 months. Most recently, LAist was updated on October 26, 2026 and WNYC on October 26, 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.*