# 97.9 The Box vs Magic 102.5

97.9 The Box and Magic 102.5 are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

97.9 The Box ships an update every 3 months, Magic 102.5 every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 97.9 The Box | Magic 102.5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/979-the-box/id385507395/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7** | — |
| Positive reviews | 61.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 90 MB | 60 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


### Magic 102.5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-1025/id818210090)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 97.9 The Box free?

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

### Is Magic 102.5 free?

Magic 102.5 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do 97.9 The Box or Magic 102.5 have ads?

Both 97.9 The Box and Magic 102.5 show ads.

### Which is updated more often, 97.9 The Box or Magic 102.5?

97.9 The Box ships an update every 3 months, and Magic 102.5 every 4 months. Most recently, 97.9 The Box was updated on October 23, 2026 and Magic 102.5 on October 26, 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.*