# AFR vs SalemNOW

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AFR at none against SalemNOW's 12. AFR also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). SalemNOW's advantage is review sentiment (76% vs 63%). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SalemNOW sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. AFR asks for nothing beyond the download.

AFR holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 372 and 88 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of AFR's written reviews are positive against 76% of SalemNOW's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

AFR ships an update every 3 months, SalemNOW every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AFR | SalemNOW |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (372 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/afr/id429511476/reviews)** | [4.3 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/salemnow/id1540045998/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **372** | 88 |
| Positive reviews | 63.2% of reviews | **75.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 25 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [American Family Association](https://appshunter.io/developer/429511479) | [Salem Communications](https://appshunter.io/developer/349087409) |

## What reviewers say

### AFR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/afr/id429511476)

Listen to Christian conservative talk radio and music, or enjoy podcasts on demand. Download episodes for offline listening and integrate with your car's CarPlay system. Stay informed with push notifications about recently played songs and important broadcasts.

**Highlights:** Listen to AFR Talk and AFR Music, Listen to podcasts, Download podcasts, Background audio playback, CarPlay integration, View recently played songs, Push notifications

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✝️ Strong Christian and biblical content
- 📻 Quality spiritual teaching and preaching
- 📰 Trustworthy news from Christian perspective
- 🎧 Diverse programming and show variety
- 💰 Free service with optional donations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- 📡 Persistent connectivity and buffering issues
- 🔇 Audio cuts out unexpectedly
- ⏸️ Playback stops when screen locks
- 📋 Schedule information not always accurate

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately upon launch
- Audio plays but screen shows different content
- Incompatibility with iOS 13, 14, 15 updates
- App won't open after recent updates
- Playback stops after 5-10 seconds

**Requested features**

- Update and display current show/host information
- Add rewind and fast-forward controls
- Implement clock radio/alarm functionality
- Allow app to continue playing with screen locked
- Set default station preference


### SalemNOW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/salemnow/id1540045998)

Stream a diverse collection of films, breaking news, and podcasts. Discover award-winning documentaries and exclusive interviews. Enjoy HD streaming and casting to your TV.

**Highlights:** Video on Demand, Exclusive content, Free content catalog, HD streaming, Casting to TV

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SalemNOW+ & Police State Film | $6.99 | per month |
| SalemNOW+ Monthly Recurring | $6.99 | per month |
| SalemNOW+ Yearly Recurring | $65.99 | per year |
| SalemNOW $6.99 | $6.99 | one-time |
| SalemNOW+ Monthly | $6.99 | one-time |
| SalemNOW $9.99 | $9.99 | one-time |
| SalemNOW $12.99 | $12.99 | one-time |
| SalemNOW $14.99 | $14.99 | one-time |
| SalemNOW $19.99 | $19.99 | one-time |
| SalemNOW $24.99 | $24.99 | one-time |
| SalemNOW $29.99 | $29.99 | one-time |
| SalemNOW+ Yearly | $65.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AFR free?

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

### Is SalemNOW free?

SalemNOW is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, AFR or SalemNOW?

AFR is rated higher. AFR averages 4.6 out of 5 from 372 ratings, while SalemNOW averages 4.3 from 88 ratings.

### Do AFR or SalemNOW have ads?

SalemNOW shows ads; AFR does not.

### Which is updated more often, AFR or SalemNOW?

AFR ships an update every 3 months, and SalemNOW every 2 months. Most recently, AFR was updated on September 18, 2026 and SalemNOW on September 1, 2026.

---

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