SBS Audio vs Pop Bites
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SBS Audio
Access music, news, podcasts, and community updates in your preferred language. Stream live radio stations and explore a diverse range of audio content.
- Music streaming
- Australian news and current affairs
- Podcasts
- Community updates
- Live radio programs
- Multilingual content
Read full descriptionHide full description
The SBS Audio app (previously known as SBS Radio) connects you to music, Australian news and current affairs, podcasts and community updates in your language. Whether you want to catch up on radio programs in your language, stream SBS Chill, SBS PopAsia, or SBS South Asian and your favourite radio programs live, or explore podcasts, you’ll find it here. Listen anytime, anywhere for free. Download our app today and find a world of difference.
Pop Bites
Read full descriptionHide full description
PopBites delivers the day’s essentials in a simple, modern feed—headlines, events, entertainment, and light gossip—so you can stay informed without scrolling forever. Get smart notifications, follow your favorite categories, and save stories to read later. It’s your quick, reliable news habit—now easier than ever.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Pop Bites at none against SBS Audio's shown. Pop Bites also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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.
SBS Audio ships an update every 3 weeks, Pop Bites every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SBS Audio | Pop Bites |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (18 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 24.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 18 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Special Broadcasting Service Corporation | Venkata Sudheer Dodla |
Bugs and requests
SBS Audio
Reported bugs
31 issues- App stops frequently while broadcasting
- App not compatible with CarPlay
- Cannot pause and play from Home Screen
- Dead support link
- Ads from current location
Show 26 moreShow fewer
- Constant streaming issues
- App often has to be rebooted to play
- Pausing often resets to the beginning
- Problematic over Bluetooth speaker
- Drains phone battery very quickly
- App not launching after update (white blank screen)
- App doesn't work after update
- Latest version not working on iPhone 6S
- Constant cutting out, takes multiple tries to start streaming
- Plays for only approx. 10 minutes before stopping
- Ads on radio streaming
- Music is tired and crappy
- Play button gets stuck
- Radio stops playing after a minute
- Play button stops working after interrupting
- Cannot download podcasts
- App opens one podcast and becomes unresponsive
- Search feature is well hidden
- No full episode for Cantonese radio show
- Playlist issue for Chill
- Hard to navigate and find playlist
- Song playlist not accurate
- Sharing podcasts has never worked
- App freezes after music plays
- New version is terrible
- Sleep timer missing
Requested features
11 requests- CarPlay compatibility
- Dark mode
- Ability to slow down speech for language learning
- Sleep timer
- Search function
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Tutorial for new users
- Option to view weekly playlists
- Purchase songs from iTunes
- Download full episodes of podcasts
- Improved playlist accuracy
- Translate broadcast times to local time
Pop Bites
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SBS Audio
No in-app purchases
Pop Bites
No in-app purchases
