CRB Classical vs WMBR
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.
WMBR
Stream live community radio from MIT, view current and past programming, and browse detailed playlists. Discover a diverse range of music and public affairs content broadcast 24/7.
- Live radio streaming
- Currently playing information
- Program schedule viewing
- Playlist archive browsing
- Listen to past shows
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With the official WMBR app, you can stream our broadcast, see what’s currently playing, view our program schedule, browse playlist archives, and listen to past shows. More features on the way! WMBR is the independent, all-volunteer radio station at MIT. We broadcast on 88.1 MHz and at wmbr.org 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our unique and innovative programming ranges from hip-hop to classical, punk rock to jazz, blues to Celtic fiddle tunes, and includes original public affairs programs and incisive analysis. Our nightly news program focuses on under-reported issues, marginalized communities, and struggles for social change. Our weekly line-up includes progressive independent national programs as well as our very own reporting on Cambridge and greater Boston.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: WMBR at 100% against CRB Classical's 49%. WMBR also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). CRB Classical's advantage is ratings volume (350 vs 9). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
WMBR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CRB Classical has 350 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of CRB Classical's written reviews are positive against 100% of WMBR's.
CRB Classical ships an update every 7 months, WMBR every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CRB Classical | WMBR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (350 ratings) | 5.0 (9 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 48.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 350 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | WGBH Educational Foundation | Technology Broadcasting Corporation |
Customer experience
CRB Classical
WMBR
In-app purchases
CRB Classical
No in-app purchases
WMBR
No in-app purchases
