# KCRW vs JiveRadio

The clearest difference is rating: JiveRadio at 4.5 against KCRW's 2.9. JiveRadio also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 32%). KCRW's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 7 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

JiveRadio holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KCRW has 401 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of KCRW's written reviews are positive against 67% of JiveRadio's.

KCRW ships an update monthly, JiveRadio every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KCRW | JiveRadio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (401 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kcrw/id319014603/reviews) | **[4.5 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jiveradio/id1451511731/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **401** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 31.8% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 121 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [KCRW](https://appshunter.io/developer/314988073) | [OPEN SKY RADIO CORP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451511730) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### JiveRadio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jiveradio/id1451511731)

Listen to a unique, genre-bending music mix from Central Oregon's KJIV 96.5FM. Access the live audio stream, view track information with album art, and find donation links for this non-profit organization.

**Highlights:** Live audio stream access, Track information display, Album art display, Donor link, Contact information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KCRW free?

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

### Is JiveRadio free?

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

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

JiveRadio is rated higher. KCRW averages 2.9 out of 5 from 401 ratings, while JiveRadio averages 4.5 from 10 ratings.

### Do KCRW or JiveRadio have ads?

JiveRadio shows ads; KCRW does not.

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

KCRW ships an update monthly, and JiveRadio every 7 months. Most recently, KCRW was updated on November 6, 2026 and JiveRadio on November 2, 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.*