# KCLU vs KALW

The clearest difference is rating: KALW at 4.8 against KCLU's 4.4. KALW also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

KALW holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 101 and 91 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of KCLU's written reviews are positive against 78% of KALW's.

KCLU ships an update every 5 months, KALW every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KCLU | KALW |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (101 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kclu/id337798223/reviews) | **[4.8 (91 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kalw/id6476590182/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **101** | 91 |
| Positive reviews | 73.1% of reviews | **78.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 37 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [California Lutheran University](https://appshunter.io/developer/337798226) | [KALW Public Media, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1727264524) |

## 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


### KALW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kalw/id6476590182)

Access live radio streams and on-demand content from a public media station. Stay informed with local news, music, and culture shows, and enjoy features like DVR-like controls for live broadcasts. The app also offers podcasts and direct communication with the station.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, On-demand listening, Local news and culture, Podcast library, DVR-like controls for live stream, Alarm clock functionality, Direct messaging to station

**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 KALW free?

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

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

KALW is rated higher. KCLU averages 4.4 out of 5 from 101 ratings, while KALW averages 4.8 from 91 ratings.

### Do KCLU or KALW have ads?

Neither KCLU nor KALW shows ads.

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

KCLU ships an update every 5 months, and KALW every 2 months. Most recently, KCLU was updated on October 15, 2026 and KALW on October 16, 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.*