# BFBS Radio vs pipeband.net

The clearest difference is update cadence: pipeband.net at weekly against BFBS Radio's every 19 months. pipeband.net also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 88%). BFBS Radio's advantage is ratings volume (71 vs 2). 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.

pipeband.net holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BFBS Radio has 71 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of BFBS Radio's written reviews are positive against 100% of pipeband.net's.

BFBS Radio ships an update every 19 months, pipeband.net weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BFBS Radio | pipeband.net |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bfbs-radio/id463475232/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pipebandnet/id6793284056/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **71** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 19 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 47 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BFBS Radio](https://appshunter.io/developer/463475235) | [PIPEBAND.NET LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887980514) |

## What reviewers say

### BFBS Radio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bfbs-radio/id463475232)

Stream live music, news, and podcasts from various BFBS stations. Catch up on missed shows and browse radio schedules. Stay connected with content tailored for the UK Armed Forces worldwide.

**Highlights:** Listen to live BFBS stations, Stream and download BFBS Podcasts, Radio Catch Up service, Browse radio schedules, Get latest news from BFBS

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great music selection
- 👍 Good news coverage
- 👍 Keeps users connected to the forces
- 👍 Informative content
- 👍 Good for listening on the move

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App freezing issues
- 🐛 Not able to connect to the app
- 🐛 Low audio quality
- 🐛 Won't play through Bluetooth
- 🐛 Autoplay issues

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing
- App not connecting
- Low bitrate audio
- Bluetooth connectivity issues
- Autoplay not working as expected

**Requested features**

- iPad app development
- Alarm clock feature
- Autoplay default station on app open
- Display current song playing


### pipeband.net

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pipebandnet/id6793284056)

This app centralizes all aspects of pipe band management, from scheduling gigs and organizing music to managing member rosters and communications. It offers custom tools for practices, competitions, and daily band operations, all within a branded online platform.

**Highlights:** Roster management, Music library organization, Gig scheduling and sign-ups, Customizable band branding, Member communication tools, Admin tools for uniforms and billing

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BFBS Radio free?

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

### Is pipeband.net free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BFBS Radio or pipeband.net?

pipeband.net is rated higher. BFBS Radio averages 4.8 out of 5 from 71 ratings, while pipeband.net averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do BFBS Radio or pipeband.net have ads?

Neither BFBS Radio nor pipeband.net shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BFBS Radio or pipeband.net?

BFBS Radio ships an update every 19 months, and pipeband.net weekly. Most recently, BFBS Radio was updated on October 23, 2026 and pipeband.net on October 25, 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.*