CRB Classical vs WBRU
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
WBRU
Stream Southern New England's premier alternative and Hip-Hop/R&B radio stations live, 24/7. This streamlined app offers a fast and direct way to access your favorite music streams on the go.
- 24/7 live streaming
- Alternative music stream
- Hip-Hop and R&B stream
- Streamlined user experience
- Mobile access to radio
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For 50 years, WBRU has been Southern New England’s leading alternative station, and since, 1974, we have served New England’s Hip-Hop and R&B lovers. Now, WBRU is offering access to our Alternative and 360 streams 24/7. Introducing the new and improved WBRU App for iOS! We've removed all of those extra functions that bogged down your favorite music apps, allowing for a streamlined experience. The WBRU App is a faster way to do what you really want: listen to the only station you’ll ever need. Take Providence’s #1 digital station with you wherever you go!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CRB Classical at 4.8 against WBRU's 4.4. CRB Classical also leads on ratings volume (350 vs 41). WBRU's advantage is review sentiment (73% vs 49%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CRB Classical has 350 ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 49% of CRB Classical's written reviews are positive against 73% of WBRU's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
CRB Classical ships an update every 7 months, WBRU every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CRB Classical | WBRU |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (350 ratings) — better | 4.4 (41 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 48.5% of reviews | 72.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 350 — better | 41 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | WGBH Educational Foundation | Brown Broadcasting Service Inc |
Customer experience
CRB Classical
WBRU
In-app purchases
CRB Classical
No in-app purchases
WBRU
No in-app purchases
