Michigan Public vs WDET
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Michigan Public
Access Michigan's premier NPR news source for in-depth reporting, compelling stories, and community connections. Stay informed about the issues shaping the state and its residents.
- NPR news source
- Fact-based reporting
- Storytelling
- Community connections
- Multiple broadcast frequencies
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Michigan Public is Michigan’s most listened to NPR news source, dedicated to uncovering the facts, sharing the stories, and creating the connections that give meaning to our complex world. This is part of our vision for an informed and engaged Michigan. Michigan Public broadcasts at 91.7 - WUOM Ann Arbor/Detroit, 91.1 - WFUM Flint, 104.1 - WVGR West Michigan, 89.7 - WLNZ Lansing, and 91.3 WRSX Port Huron. You can find us at michiganpublic.org.
WDET
Access local Detroit news and music on the go. Stream live radio, listen to on-demand content like news rundowns and music shows, and catch up on your favorite podcasts. Share your experiences and stay informed about local events and discussions.
- Live radio streaming
- On-demand news rundowns
- Music show playback
- Podcast listening
- Event listings
- Content sharing
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Description Local news and music from Detroit go wherever you go in the new WDET mobile app. Listen live or stream on demand, whenever you want. STREAM • Listen live using a stream that adapts to your signal, making it clearer and more reliable • Navigate between ALPHA, our 24-7 stream of electronic music and progressive soul, and Wayne State University college radio LISTEN ON DEMAND • Stream and read daily local news rundowns • Playback music shows and access recent playlist • Launch the latest segments from WDET’s Detroit Today, Redline & Culture City • A one-stop shop to listen to your favorite podcasts INTERACT • Share your recorded responses and #SceneFromDetroit images using “Upload & Share” • Get the scoop on what events are happening in Detroit • Join the conversation about local news topics on Twitter and Facebook under “Stay Connected” Brought to you by Detroit’s public radio station, WDET 101.9 FM Detroit. The new WDET mobile app is made possible by the supporters of WDET’s Tech Upgrade. For more information visit wdet.org.
Screenshots
Verdict
Michigan Public and WDET both sit at 3.2 stars, but that hides the real split: 33% of WDET's written reviews are positive against 17% of Michigan Public's. WDET also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). Michigan Public's advantage is update cadence (every 5 months vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (57 vs 15). On price, rating, 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.2 for Michigan Public against 3.1 for WDET. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 57 and 15 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 17% of Michigan Public's written reviews are positive against 33% of WDET's.
Michigan Public ships an update every 5 months, WDET every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Michigan Public | WDET |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (57 ratings) — better | 3.1 (15 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 16.9% of reviews | 33.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 57 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months — better | Every 11 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Jacobs Media | Wayne State University |
Customer experience
Michigan Public
WDET
Bugs and requests
Michigan Public
Reported bugs
15 issues- Stream stops playing intermittently
- App crashes on startup
- Buffering issues causing audio skips
- App stops when switching to other apps
- App restarts repeatedly
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- App starts playing randomly
- Cannot stop playback without uninstalling
- Functions open web browser
- Alarm function does not work
- Background streaming issues
- Updates cause crashes or break features
- Blank space where images used to be
- App not loading or crashing
- Streaming issues on older devices
- App closes when phone screen locks
Requested features
10 requests- Landscape mode for iPad
- Hourly news on demand
- Sleep function
- Improved alarm functionality
- Background listening improvements
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Option to disable auto-play
- Larger play button
- Display current/upcoming schedule within app
- Image display aspect ratio fix
- Include national news
WDET
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Michigan Public
No in-app purchases
WDET
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Michigan Public free?
Is WDET free?
Which has better reviews, Michigan Public or WDET?
Do Michigan Public or WDET have ads?
Which is updated more often, Michigan Public or WDET?
Other comparisons
