# KCRW vs Novaphonic.FM

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Novaphonic.FM at 100% against KCRW's 32%. Novaphonic.FM also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.9). KCRW's advantage is ratings volume (400 vs 13). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Novaphonic.FM holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KCRW has 400 ratings behind it against 13, 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 100% of Novaphonic.FM's.

KCRW ships an update monthly, Novaphonic.FM every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | KCRW | Novaphonic.FM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (400 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kcrw/id319014603/reviews) | **[4.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novaphonicfm/id6550919528/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **400** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 32.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 121 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [KCRW](https://appshunter.io/developer/314988073) | [Miami Valley Public Media Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496848144) |

## 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


### Novaphonic.FM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novaphonicfm/id6550919528)

Stream a 24/7 music channel featuring specialty shows and a diverse mix of music. Interact with the community by sending messages, photos, and videos to get on the air. Access favorite podcasts and read the latest music news.

**Highlights:** Live 24/7 music streaming, Pause and rewind live stream, Access favorite podcasts, Read music news, Send messages, photos, and videos to get on air

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KCRW free?

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

### Is Novaphonic.FM free?

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

### Which has better reviews, KCRW or Novaphonic.FM?

Novaphonic.FM is rated higher. KCRW averages 2.9 out of 5 from 400 ratings, while Novaphonic.FM averages 4.8 from 13 ratings.

### Do KCRW or Novaphonic.FM have ads?

Neither KCRW nor Novaphonic.FM shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KCRW or Novaphonic.FM?

KCRW ships an update monthly, and Novaphonic.FM every 4 weeks. Most recently, KCRW was updated on October 24, 2026 and Novaphonic.FM on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*