Encouraging Radio vs STAR 99.1
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Encouraging Radio
Listen to uplifting Christian music and engaging podcasts. Enjoy various stations featuring Contemporary Christian and Southern Gospel, plus a 24/7 Christmas channel and classic CCM hits. Interact live and discover heartwarming stories and inspiring songs in a family-safe environment.
- Christian music stations
- Engaging podcasts
- Live interaction
- Family-safe environment
- 24/7 Christmas music
- Classic CCM hits
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Encouraging Radio is your source for powerful, life changing Christian music and fun, engaging podcasts! Easily choose from the best in Contemporary Christian and Southern Gospel; stations include:Spirit FM (CCM), Walk FM (CCM), WCQR (CCM), WPER (CCM), Joy FM (SG). Plus, The Gift, a 24/7 Christmas Music Channel that is celebrating every day of the year, and Positive Gold, great CCM classics! Select podcasts and interact live with us anywhere in the world! Encouraging Radio brings you heartwarming stories of faith, uplifting songs that inspire your spirit, and belly laughs that you can share with your kids. We’re not just radio—we’re a family-safe environment that honors your Christian values, your deepest beliefs, and service to others. This is Encouraging Radio. Download today.
STAR 99.1
This app provides uplifting music and stories for listeners in the New York metropolitan area and beyond. It aims to encourage listeners and connect them with a spiritual narrative. Access additional stations featuring Gospel, Positive Hits, and Hip Hop music.
- Uplifting music and stories
- Encouraging content
- Spiritual connection
- Gospel HD-2 station
- Energy HD-3 station
- Positive Hits and Hip Hop station
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STAR 99.1 is uplifting music! We exist to share music and stories with listeners in the New York metropolitan area, throughout New Jersey, and the world that encourage, help you feel better, and invite you into the greater story of God in your life! Also through this app, you can listen to Gospel- Star 99.1's HD-2 station, and Energy- HD-3, Positive Hits and Hip Hop Station.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: STAR 99.1 at none against Encouraging Radio's shown. STAR 99.1 also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
STAR 99.1 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: STAR 99.1 has 834 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of Encouraging Radio's written reviews are positive against 98% of STAR 99.1's.
Encouraging Radio ships an update every 4 months, STAR 99.1 every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on June 3, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Encouraging Radio | STAR 99.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (23 ratings) | 4.9 (834 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 95.5% of reviews | 97.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 23 | 834 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Positive Alternative Radio INC | Pillar Ministries, Inc. |
Customer experience
Encouraging Radio
STAR 99.1
Bugs and requests
Encouraging Radio
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
STAR 99.1
Reported bugs
2 issues- App sometimes freezes or stops playing
- Older version of the app needs updating
Requested features
2 requests- Update the app with more features
- Add a Christmas music channel
In-app purchases
Encouraging Radio
No in-app purchases
STAR 99.1
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Encouraging Radio free?
Is STAR 99.1 free?
Which has better reviews, Encouraging Radio or STAR 99.1?
Do Encouraging Radio or STAR 99.1 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Encouraging Radio or STAR 99.1?
Other comparisons
