WFMT vs CRB Classical
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WFMT
Stream live classical music from a world-renowned radio station. Enjoy exclusive broadcasts of concerts, live events, and performances from major orchestras and opera companies.
- Live classical music streaming
- Exclusive concert broadcasts
- Orchestra and opera performances
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Metropolitan Opera
- Salzburg Festival
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Listen to WFMT, one of the world’s most renowned classical music radio stations, wherever you are. You will hear superlative programs, concerts, and live events you cannot hear anywhere else – broadcasts from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Santa Fe Music Festival, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Metropolitan Opera, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, the Salzburg Festival, San Francisco Opera and Symphony, and more.
CRB Classical
Stream centuries of timeless classical music for free. Enjoy 24/7 programming and exclusive on-demand broadcasts from Boston-based ensembles. This app is your perfect companion for any part of your day.
- Free music streaming
- 24/7 classical programming
- Exclusive on-demand broadcasts
- Boston Symphony Orchestra content
- Works on smartphone, laptop, smart speaker
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Step into a musical oasis with the CRB Classical App. Carry centuries of timeless music in your pocket and stream it free on your smartphone, laptop, or smart speaker. Enjoy 24/7 programming from WCRB and hear exclusive on-demand Classical Radio Boston broadcasts of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and other Massachusetts-based ensembles. Whether you’re waking up, working, or unwinding, CRB Classical is your companion throughout the day.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CRB Classical at 4.8 against WFMT's 3.7. CRB Classical also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (49% vs 32%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
CRB Classical holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CRB Classical has 350 ratings behind it against 62, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of WFMT's written reviews are positive against 49% of CRB Classical's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WFMT | CRB Classical |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (62 ratings) | 4.8 (350 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 32.0% of reviews | 48.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 62 | 350 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 7 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 47 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | WFMT | WGBH Educational Foundation |
Customer experience
WFMT
CRB Classical
Bugs and requests
WFMT
Reported bugs
15 issues- App stops playing frequently
- Stream cuts out often
- App crashes unexpectedly
- Live stream stops without reason
- App freezes and requires restart
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- Title displayed doesn't match music
- App drains battery
- Streaming is touchy and stops on interruptions
- On-demand feature is worthless
- App compresses music heavily
- Virtual volume slider not working on iPad
- App quits without warning
- Spinning circle and no stream
- Website access has ad splash blocking navigation
- App crashes after entering zip code
Requested features
8 requests- Update app performance
- Fix app dropouts
- Improve streaming stability
- Add playlist information
- Provide access to full archives
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Implement clock radio/sleep timer
- Add concert notes/deep dives
- Fix virtual volume slider on iPad
CRB Classical
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
WFMT
No in-app purchases
CRB Classical
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is WFMT free?
Is CRB Classical free?
Which has better reviews, WFMT or CRB Classical?
Do WFMT or CRB Classical have ads?
Which is updated more often, WFMT or CRB Classical?
Other comparisons
