# LA Phil vs HW Media

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HW Media at 100% against LA Phil's 36%. HW Media also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). LA Phil's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, 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.

HW Media holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of LA Phil's written reviews are positive against 100% of HW Media's.

LA Phil ships an update every 5 weeks, HW Media every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LA Phil | HW Media |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/la-phil/id394783027/reviews) | **[5.0 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hw-media/id6468949675/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **12** |
| Positive reviews | 36.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 61 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Los Angeles Philharmonic Association](https://appshunter.io/developer/327955074) | [Harvard-Westlake School](https://appshunter.io/developer/573549202) |

## What reviewers say

### LA Phil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/la-phil/id394783027)

Enhance your concert experience with event discovery, ticket management, and program information. Stay informed about venue guidelines and safety updates for seamless enjoyment.

**Highlights:** Discover upcoming events, Share and scan tickets, Learn about music programs, Stay updated on safety information, Venue guidelines

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### HW Media

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hw-media/id6468949675)

Access live and archived video content from a private school, covering news, sports, arts, and academics. Explore various channels featuring student life, admissions, and alumni.

**Highlights:** Live and archived video streams, Multiple content channels, School news and events, Sports broadcasts, Arts performances, Academic content

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LA Phil free?

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

### Is HW Media free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LA Phil or HW Media?

HW Media is rated higher. LA Phil averages 4.1 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while HW Media averages 5.0 from 12 ratings.

### Do LA Phil or HW Media have ads?

Neither LA Phil nor HW Media shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LA Phil or HW Media?

LA Phil ships an update every 5 weeks, and HW Media every 3 months. Most recently, LA Phil was updated on November 1, 2026 and HW Media on November 7, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*