# CRB Classical vs KBACH Phoenix

CRB Classical and KBACH Phoenix both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 86% of KBACH Phoenix's written reviews are positive against 47% of CRB Classical's. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 KBACH Phoenix. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 295 and 139 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 47% of CRB Classical's written reviews are positive against 86% of KBACH Phoenix's.

CRB Classical ships an update every 7 months, KBACH Phoenix every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CRB Classical | KBACH Phoenix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (295 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crb-classical/id321995363/reviews) | **[4.9 (139 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kbach-phoenix/id871272161/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **295** | 139 |
| Positive reviews | 46.9% of reviews | **86.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 7 months** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 38 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [WGBH Educational Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/321995366) | [Friends of Public Radio Arizona](https://appshunter.io/developer/767469034) |

## 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

**In-app purchases:** none


### KBACH Phoenix

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kbach-phoenix/id871272161)

Stream live classical music, jazz, news, and podcasts from public radio stations. Access on-demand content including interviews and local news. Features include pause/rewind, sleep timer, and podcast favorites.

**Highlights:** Live classical music stream, Jazz music stream, News and information stream, On-demand podcasts, Pause and rewind live audio, Sleep timer and alarm clock, Podcast favorites

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CRB Classical free?

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

### Is KBACH Phoenix free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CRB Classical or KBACH Phoenix?

KBACH Phoenix is rated higher. CRB Classical averages 4.8 out of 5 from 295 ratings, while KBACH Phoenix averages 4.9 from 139 ratings.

### Do CRB Classical or KBACH Phoenix have ads?

Neither CRB Classical nor KBACH Phoenix shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CRB Classical or KBACH Phoenix?

CRB Classical ships an update every 7 months, and KBACH Phoenix every 8 months. Most recently, CRB Classical was updated on September 23, 2026 and KBACH Phoenix on September 21, 2026.

---

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