# WBUR vs WNYC

The clearest difference is ads: WNYC at none against WBUR's shown. WBUR's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

WBUR holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WBUR has 4K ratings behind it against 793, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of WBUR's written reviews are positive against 32% of WNYC's.

WBUR ships an update every 6 weeks, WNYC every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WBUR | WNYC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wbur/id379690847/reviews)** | [4.5 (793 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wnyc/id470219771/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4K** | 793 |
| Positive reviews | **41.3% of reviews** | 31.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#207** | — |
| Size | 54 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [90.9 WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station](https://appshunter.io/developer/379690850) | [New York Public Radio](https://appshunter.io/developer/396530754) |

## What reviewers say

### WBUR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wbur/id379690847)

**Currently charting:** #207 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Access live radio streams and on-demand podcasts from a public media organization. Enjoy news briefs, trending stories, and the ability to download episodes for offline listening. Supports CarPlay for in-car use.

**Highlights:** Live radio stream, Signature podcasts, Hourly news briefs, Download episodes, CarPlay support, On-demand listening

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 24/7 access to news and programs
- 👍 Pause, rewind, and resume live streaming
- 💡 Ability to download shows for offline listening
- 👍 Easy to navigate and use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Inconsistent live streaming and buffering issues
- 🐛 Rewind and fast-forward functionality not working as expected
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔍 Cluttered interface with too many buttons

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when switching between audio sources
- Playback does not resume after interruptions like phone calls
- Time slider inaccurate, often showing wrong position in the program

**Requested features**

- Add search functionality to find specific shows or episodes
- Improve sleep timer and alarm clock integration
- Provide an option to disable the opening ad
- Optimize the app for larger screens and modern UI


### WNYC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wnyc/id470219771)

Access live and on-demand news, commentary, culture, storytelling, and music from New York's public radio station and its partners. Save podcasts for offline listening and stay updated on local and national headlines.

**Highlights:** Live broadcast streaming, On-demand news and commentary, Podcast saving for offline listening, Local and national headline updates, Music live streams

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great station, great app
- 📻 Excellent content and programming
- 🌐 Access to WNYC anywhere
- 🔍 Helpful discovery features
- 🔊 Reliable live streaming

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy, buggy, and unstable
- 🔇 Frequent audio issues and disconnects
- 🔁 Struggles to resume playback after interruptions
- 🔍 Confusing navigation and UI
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Audio stream stops unexpectedly
- Playback controls not working
- Saved content disappearing
- Connectivity issues with cellular and WiFi

**Requested features**

- Bring back sleep timer
- Improve podcast playback and resume functionality
- Add background audio support
- Optimize UI for newer iPhone models
- Implement better connectivity handling


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WBUR free?

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

### Is WNYC free?

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

### Which has better reviews, WBUR or WNYC?

WBUR is rated higher. WBUR averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4K ratings, while WNYC averages 4.5 from 793 ratings.

### Do WBUR or WNYC have ads?

WBUR shows ads; WNYC does not.

### Which is updated more often, WBUR or WNYC?

WBUR ships an update every 6 weeks, and WNYC every 2 months. Most recently, WBUR was updated on September 19, 2026 and WNYC on September 24, 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.*