# 97.9 The Box vs 104.1 KRBE

The clearest difference is review sentiment: 97.9 The Box at 61% against 104.1 KRBE's 26%. 97.9 The Box also leads on rating (3.3 vs 3.0). 104.1 KRBE's advantage is ratings volume (26 vs 7). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

97.9 The Box holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 26 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of 97.9 The Box's written reviews are positive against 26% of 104.1 KRBE's.

97.9 The Box ships an update every 3 months, 104.1 KRBE every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 97.9 The Box | 104.1 KRBE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/979-the-box/id385507395/reviews)** | [3.0 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1041-krbe/id735642891/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **26** |
| Positive reviews | **61.4% of reviews** | 26.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 90 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Urban One, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/409075053) | [Cumulus Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/513445338) |

## What reviewers say

### 97.9 The Box

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/979-the-box/id385507395)

Listen to live radio streams and access exclusive content from your favorite station. Stay connected on the go with social media integration and unique features. This app is free to use and offers a convenient way to enjoy audio content.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, Social media integration, Access unique content, On-the-go connectivity, Audience measurement software

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ❤️ Favorite station accessible anywhere
- 👍 Great music selection
- 🎶 Consistent music play (when working)
- 😎 Ability to listen at work
- ✨ User-friendly interface (when working)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent buffering and stalling
- 🐛 App freezes and goes silent
- 🐛 App forces close unexpectedly
- 🐛 Too many commercials
- 🐛 Unsafe ad interaction while driving

**Reported bugs**

- Random buffering
- App stops playing music
- App freezes
- App forces close
- App is out of sync

**Requested features**

- Fix buffering and connection issues
- Improve app performance and stability
- Reduce or eliminate commercials
- Allow multitasking while using the app
- Show artist info for each song


### 104.1 KRBE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1041-krbe/id735642891)

Stream live radio and access on-demand content, including podcasts and news. Features include a new interface, song history, and offline listening options. Enjoy an alarm clock, sleep timer, and real-time weather updates.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, On-demand podcast access, Current and recently played songs, Station and local news updates, Offline podcast listening, Alarm clock and sleep timer, Real-time weather

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Great music quality
- 🎤 Access to Roula and Ryan show
- 👍 Easy to use (historically)
- 🚀 Fast connection (sometimes)

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Frequent app crashes
- ❌ Excessive and intrusive ads
- ❌ App won't open or load
- ❌ Poor navigation and unintuitive design
- ❌ Ads block content or crash app

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- App won't open
- App won't load content
- Black screen after ads
- Ads block exit button

**Requested features**

- Update the app
- Fix bugs
- Improve navigation
- Allow background listening
- Fix cellular connection issues


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 97.9 The Box free?

97.9 The Box is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is 104.1 KRBE free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 97.9 The Box or 104.1 KRBE?

97.9 The Box is rated higher. 97.9 The Box averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while 104.1 KRBE averages 3.0 from 26 ratings.

### Do 97.9 The Box or 104.1 KRBE have ads?

Both 97.9 The Box and 104.1 KRBE show ads.

### Which is updated more often, 97.9 The Box or 104.1 KRBE?

97.9 The Box ships an update every 3 months, and 104.1 KRBE every 4 months. Most recently, 97.9 The Box was updated on October 23, 2026 and 104.1 KRBE on October 21, 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.*