# 97.9 The Beat vs STAR 94.5

The clearest difference is rating: STAR 94.5 at 4.7 against 97.9 The Beat's 4.0. STAR 94.5 also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 58%) and ratings volume (211 vs 5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

STAR 94.5 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: STAR 94.5 has 211 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of 97.9 The Beat's written reviews are positive against 81% of STAR 94.5's.

97.9 The Beat ships an update every 4 months, STAR 94.5 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 97.9 The Beat | STAR 94.5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/979-the-beat/id413221573/reviews) | **[4.7 (211 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-945/id690215997/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **211** |
| Positive reviews | 58.0% of reviews | **81.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 89 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Urban One, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/409075053) | [Cox Media Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/365102482) |

## What reviewers say

### 97.9 The Beat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/979-the-beat/id413221573)

Stream your favorite hip-hop radio station live from Dallas. Access unique content and features instantly, whether you're at work, home, or on the go. Enjoy uninterrupted listening within the U.S. and Canada.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, Exclusive content access, On-the-go listening, Unique features

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### STAR 94.5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-945/id690215997)

Listen live to Orlando's premier R&B station 24/7. Engage with the station by voting for music, sending voice messages to play on air, and setting custom alarms with DJ greetings. Enjoy the hottest R&B hits from top artists.

**Highlights:** Live 24/7 R&B radio streaming, Vote on music selection, Record and send "Open Mic" messages, Set custom alarms with DJ greetings, Hear music from top R&B artists

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Great music selection
- ❤️ Favorite radio station
- 👍 App works well normally
- 📻 Good for listening anywhere
- 😊 Makes commute enjoyable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent glitches
- ⚠️ App not working recently
- 🚫 Won't open/load
- 📺 Too many commercials
- 🤔 App starts without user input

**Reported bugs**

- App has a lot of glitches
- App not working recently
- Only Abercrombie commercial plays
- Pop up states slow internet connection
- App not working giving error code 633

**Requested features**

- App needs to be updated
- Add an on/off switch for auto-play


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 97.9 The Beat free?

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

### Is STAR 94.5 free?

STAR 94.5 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 97.9 The Beat or STAR 94.5?

STAR 94.5 is rated higher. 97.9 The Beat averages 4.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while STAR 94.5 averages 4.7 from 211 ratings.

### Do 97.9 The Beat or STAR 94.5 have ads?

Both 97.9 The Beat and STAR 94.5 show ads.

### Which is updated more often, 97.9 The Beat or STAR 94.5?

97.9 The Beat ships an update every 4 months, and STAR 94.5 every 2 months. Most recently, 97.9 The Beat was updated on October 23, 2026 and STAR 94.5 on October 20, 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.*