# WFUV vs KCRW

The clearest difference is rating: WFUV at 4.0 against KCRW's 2.9. WFUV also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.6). KCRW's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months) and review sentiment (32% vs 13%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

WFUV holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KCRW has 393 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 13% of WFUV's written reviews are positive against 32% of KCRW's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

WFUV ships an update every 8 months, KCRW monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WFUV | KCRW |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wfuv/id318394602/reviews)** | [2.9 (393 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kcrw/id319014603/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **393** |
| Positive reviews | 13.0% of reviews | **32.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 34 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jacobs Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/303775585) | [KCRW](https://appshunter.io/developer/314988073) |

## What reviewers say

### WFUV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wfuv/id318394602)

Access two live music streams and a vast archive of performances and video sessions. Enjoy commercial-free listening and viewing of exclusive content from a public media source.

**Highlights:** Two live music streams, FUV Live Vault performances, Video of private concerts, Commercial-free listening, Music discovery

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great station content
- 👍 On-demand listening
- 👍 Simple interface
- 👍 Free to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 App does not open
- 🐛 Incompatible with newer iOS
- 🐛 AirPlay issues
- 🐛 Buffering problems

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes upon start
- App does not open
- App crashes when adjusting volume
- App crashes when multitasking
- App crashes when switching streams

**Requested features**

- Update the app
- Fix bugs
- Improve compatibility with newer iOS
- Fix AirPlay issues
- Add song title information


### KCRW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kcrw/id319014603)

Access a curated selection of music, news, and cultural content. Enjoy new livestreams, real-time song information, and exclusive member benefits.

**Highlights:** Curated music and shows, New livestreams (Dance24, Vintage24), Real-time "Now Playing" information, Member perks, Redesigned interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Best music station
- 🎧 Excellent music selection
- 🌍 Accessible from anywhere
- 🔍 Helpful for music discovery

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate
- 🔇 Playback issues (pausing, resuming, skipping)
- 🔧 Broken functionality after updates

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Incompatible with older iOS versions
- Notification badge won't clear
- Streaming cuts out frequently
- Eclectic 24 playlist not updating in real-time

**Requested features**

- Resume playback from where left off
- Improved song/artist information display
- Chromecast/AirPlay support
- Ability to save/favorite songs
- Landscape mode support on iPad


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WFUV free?

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

### Is KCRW free?

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

### Which has better reviews, WFUV or KCRW?

WFUV is rated higher. WFUV averages 4.0 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while KCRW averages 2.9 from 393 ratings.

### Do WFUV or KCRW have ads?

Neither WFUV nor KCRW shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, WFUV or KCRW?

WFUV ships an update every 8 months, and KCRW monthly. Most recently, WFUV was updated on September 27, 2026 and KCRW on September 30, 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.*