# NWPB vs KW3

The clearest difference is ads: NWPB at none against KW3's shown. NWPB also leads on rating (4.2 vs 4.0) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

NWPB holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NWPB has 104 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of NWPB's written reviews are positive against 60% of KW3's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NWPB | KW3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (104 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nwpb/id472024661/reviews)** | [4.0 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kw3/id888023176/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **104** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | **66.2% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 48 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Washington State University](https://appshunter.io/developer/886047261) | [Townsquare Media, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/433762450) |

## What reviewers say

### NWPB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nwpb/id472024661)

Access live radio and TV streams from Northwest Public Broadcasting, including NPR and PBS content. Enjoy on-demand shows, news updates, and DVR-like controls for live audio and video. Share content and set alarms with your favorite station.

**Highlights:** Live radio and TV streaming, On-demand shows and clips, DVR-like controls for live audio/video, Program schedules, Local and national news, Shareable content, Sleep timer and alarm clock

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great content and programming
- 👍 Reliable when it works
- 👍 No ads or pop-ups
- 👍 Good for staying connected while traveling
- 👍 Pleasant interface and design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent streaming interruptions
- 🐛 App crashes often
- 🐛 Sleep timer issues
- 🐛 Audio skips or stops
- 🐛 App freezes

**Reported bugs**

- Streaming cuts out frequently
- Sleep timer resets or doesn't change
- App randomly closes
- Audio randomly stopping and playing
- System becomes frozen

**Requested features**

- Fix streaming interruptions
- Improve sleep timer functionality
- Allow changing sleep timer without exiting app
- Make app more intuitive for program scheduling
- Add offline download/listening feature


### KW3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kw3/id888023176)

Stay informed with local news, weather, and traffic updates. Listen to live radio, interact with hosts, and receive instant alerts for breaking stories and contests. Save articles for offline reading and share content easily.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, Breaking news alerts, Weather and traffic updates, Interactive host communication, Save articles for offline reading, Contest and giveaway participation, Social media sharing

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NWPB free?

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

### Is KW3 free?

KW3 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NWPB or KW3?

NWPB is rated higher. NWPB averages 4.2 out of 5 from 104 ratings, while KW3 averages 4.0 from 12 ratings.

### Do NWPB or KW3 have ads?

KW3 shows ads; NWPB does not.

### Which is updated more often, NWPB or KW3?

NWPB ships an update every 3 months, and KW3 every 3 months. Most recently, NWPB was updated on October 13, 2026 and KW3 on October 4, 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.*