# KCLU vs KPBS

The clearest difference is monetization model: KCLU at free against KPBS's ad-supported. KCLU also leads on review sentiment (73% vs 64%). 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 — 4.4 for KCLU against 4.4 for KPBS. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 104 and 107 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of KCLU's written reviews are positive against 64% of KPBS's.

KCLU ships an update every 5 months, KPBS every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KCLU | KPBS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (104 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kclu/id337798223/reviews) | **[4.4 (107 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kpbs/id1305075995/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 104 | **107** |
| Positive reviews | **73.1% of reviews** | 64.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 37 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [California Lutheran University](https://appshunter.io/developer/337798226) | [San Diego State University Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1305075994) |

## What reviewers say

### KCLU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kclu/id337798223)

Listen to live public radio streams, pause and rewind live audio, and explore on-demand content. Bookmark programs for later and use the alarm clock to wake up to your favorite station. Access program schedules and related web pages easily.

**Highlights:** Live streaming with DVR controls, On-demand content library, Program schedule integration, Bookmark live and on-demand programs, Sleep timer and alarm clock, Share stories and programs, Background listening

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great local news content
- 👍 Keeps users connected during emergencies
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 👍 Good for staying updated while traveling
- 👍 Reliable for NPR programming

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent audio cut-outs and buffering
- 🐛 App instability after updates
- 🐛 Poor connectivity issues
- 🐛 Clunky and slow loading
- 🐛 Does not work well with CarPlay

**Reported bugs**

- App keeps cutting out
- App restarts and repeats audio
- App closes unexpectedly
- App is glitchy after updates
- Audio buffers frequently

**Requested features**

- Fix app glitches and bugs
- Improve local news coverage for all areas
- Ensure app works reliably with CarPlay
- Optimize app for faster loading
- Address connectivity issues


### KPBS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kpbs/id1305075995)

Access local and national news, podcasts, and entertainment from San Diego's public media station. Stream live radio and TV, watch on-demand programs, and receive breaking news alerts all in one place.

**Highlights:** Read local and national news, Listen to live radio streams, Watch live TV streams, Access on-demand programs and podcasts, Receive breaking news alerts, Bookmark programs for later

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KCLU free?

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

### Is KPBS free?

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

### Which has better reviews, KCLU or KPBS?

KPBS is rated higher. KCLU averages 4.4 out of 5 from 104 ratings, while KPBS averages 4.4 from 107 ratings.

### Do KCLU or KPBS have ads?

Neither KCLU nor KPBS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KCLU or KPBS?

KCLU ships an update every 5 months, and KPBS every 4 months. Most recently, KCLU was updated on November 1, 2026 and KPBS on November 2, 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.*