# CRB Classical vs Grail Tape

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CRB Classical at none against Grail Tape's 2. CRB Classical also leads on ratings volume (361 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). Grail Tape's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months). On price, rating and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Grail Tape sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. CRB Classical asks for nothing beyond the download.

Grail Tape holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CRB Classical has 361 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

CRB Classical ships an update every 7 months, Grail Tape every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CRB Classical | Grail Tape |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (361 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crb-classical/id321995363/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grail-tape-cassette-scanner/id6786137334/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **361** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 48.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 38 MB | 292 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [WGBH Educational Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/321995366) | [GRAILVINYL LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896638229) |

## 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


### Grail Tape

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grail-tape-cassette-scanner/id6786137334)

Instantly identify cassette tapes by speaking, typing, photographing, or playing a sample. Learn about different editions, spot fakes, and track your listening habits. Manage your collection and share it with others.

**Highlights:** On-device identification via voice, text, photo, or audio, Detailed edition and rarity information, Dub and fake detection checklist, Cassette format glossary, Playback tracking with Last.fm integration, Collection management and sharing

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grail Member - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Grail Member - Annual | $34.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CRB Classical free?

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

### Is Grail Tape free?

Grail Tape is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, CRB Classical or Grail Tape?

Grail Tape is rated higher. CRB Classical averages 4.8 out of 5 from 361 ratings, while Grail Tape averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do CRB Classical or Grail Tape have ads?

Neither CRB Classical nor Grail Tape shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CRB Classical or Grail Tape?

CRB Classical ships an update every 7 months, and Grail Tape every 2 weeks. Most recently, CRB Classical was updated on November 6, 2026 and Grail Tape on November 5, 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.*