KEXP vs The Current Music
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
KEXP
This app connects you to a global community of music enthusiasts and creators. It broadcasts live radio from Seattle and the Bay Area, featuring diverse music across genres and eras. Discover exclusive in-studio performances through its popular YouTube channel.
- Live radio broadcasts
- International music community
- Exclusive in-studio performances
- Diverse music genres
- Online streaming
- YouTube channel content
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KEXP is an international community of music lovers and music makers, championing music that spans eras, styles and traditions. One of the most influential listener-supported music stations in the world, KEXP radio broadcasts on-air and online from our studios in Seattle and the Bay Area. Each week on KEXP's YouTube channel, millions of viewers worldwide enjoy Live on KEXP sessions featuring exclusive in-studio performances. Listen in and join our community at KEXP.ORG.
The Current Music
Stream live radio from an independent public radio station featuring authentic and independent new music. Access additional curated music streams directly within the app.
- Livestream The Current
- Additional music streams
- Radio Heartland stream
- Local Current stream
- Rock the Cradle stream
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The Current is an independent, member-supported public radio station in Minnesota that plays the best authentic and independent new music alongside the music that inspired it. Livestream The Current and additional streams like Radio Heartland, Local Current, Rock the Cradle, and more directly from the app. Great Music Lives Here.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: The Current Music at 4.7 against KEXP's 4.0. KEXP's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (42% vs 24%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
The Current Music holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KEXP has 272 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 42% of KEXP's written reviews are positive against 24% of The Current Music's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
KEXP ships an update every 2 months, The Current Music monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | KEXP | The Current Music |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (272 ratings) | 4.7 (10 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 42.4% of reviews — better | 24.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 272 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 63 MB | 93 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | KEXP.ORG 90.3FM Seattle | Minnesota Public Radio |
Customer experience
KEXP
The Current Music
In-app purchases
KEXP
No in-app purchases
The Current Music
No in-app purchases
