# CRB Classical vs Classical California

CRB Classical and Classical California both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 90% of Classical California's written reviews are positive against 49% of CRB Classical's. Classical California also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (12K vs 350). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for CRB Classical against 4.9 for Classical California. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Classical California has 12K ratings behind it against 350, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 49% of CRB Classical's written reviews are positive against 90% of Classical California's.

CRB Classical ships an update every 7 months, Classical California every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CRB Classical | Classical California |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (350 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crb-classical/id321995363/reviews) | **[4.9 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classical-california/id447665086/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 350 | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | 48.5% of reviews | **89.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 38 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WGBH Educational Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/321995366) | [KUSC](https://appshunter.io/developer/446263590) |

## What reviewers say

### CRB Classical

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crb-classical/id321995363)

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.

**Highlights:** Free music streaming, 24/7 classical programming, Exclusive on-demand broadcasts, Boston Symphony Orchestra content, Works on smartphone, laptop, smart speaker

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Classical California

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classical-california/id447665086)

Experience world-class classical music streamed live, 24/7. Discover curated playlists and enjoy a hand-picked music mix with friendly hosts, bringing the concert hall to you wherever you go.

**Highlights:** Live classical music streaming, Curated playlists, Hand-picked music mix, Friendly hosts, 24/7 availability

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Excellent music selection
- 🎧 High-quality audio
- 🕰️ Variety of programming
- 💻 Convenient app experience
- 🌟 Knowledgeable and engaging hosts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 Repetitive song rotation
- 🗣️ Too much self-promotion
- 🔊 Streaming issues and disconnects
- 🕰️ Incomplete track information

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Inconsistent metadata display

**Requested features**

- More contemporary classical music
- Ability to listen to archived programs
- Improved app stability and reliability
- Expanded music discovery features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CRB Classical free?

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

### Is Classical California free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CRB Classical or Classical California?

Classical California is rated higher. CRB Classical averages 4.8 out of 5 from 350 ratings, while Classical California averages 4.9 from 12K ratings.

### Do CRB Classical or Classical California have ads?

Neither CRB Classical nor Classical California shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CRB Classical or Classical California?

CRB Classical ships an update every 7 months, and Classical California every 6 weeks. Most recently, CRB Classical was updated on October 15, 2026 and Classical California on October 16, 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.*