WDET vs WKAR Listen
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WDET
Access local Detroit news and music on the go. Stream live radio, listen to on-demand content like news rundowns and music shows, and catch up on your favorite podcasts. Share your experiences and stay informed about local events and discussions.
- Live radio streaming
- On-demand news rundowns
- Music show playback
- Podcast listening
- Event listings
- Content sharing
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Description Local news and music from Detroit go wherever you go in the new WDET mobile app. Listen live or stream on demand, whenever you want. STREAM • Listen live using a stream that adapts to your signal, making it clearer and more reliable • Navigate between ALPHA, our 24-7 stream of electronic music and progressive soul, and Wayne State University college radio LISTEN ON DEMAND • Stream and read daily local news rundowns • Playback music shows and access recent playlist • Launch the latest segments from WDET’s Detroit Today, Redline & Culture City • A one-stop shop to listen to your favorite podcasts INTERACT • Share your recorded responses and #SceneFromDetroit images using “Upload & Share” • Get the scoop on what events are happening in Detroit • Join the conversation about local news topics on Twitter and Facebook under “Stay Connected” Brought to you by Detroit’s public radio station, WDET 101.9 FM Detroit. The new WDET mobile app is made possible by the supporters of WDET’s Tech Upgrade. For more information visit wdet.org.
WKAR Listen
Stream live and on-demand audio content from WKAR Public Media. Access NPR News, classical music, jazz, folk, Latinx programming, and local mid-Michigan news and weather.
- Live radio streaming
- On-demand content
- NPR News and NPR programming
- Classical and Jazz music streams
- Local news and weather updates
- Podcasts from WKAR and NPR
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Listen live and on-demand from WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University. Stream 90.5 FM for NPR News and classical music, plus a mix of jazz, folk, and Latinx. WKAR hosts join NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered to provide mid-Michigan news and weather alongside the national reporting. Stream NewsTalk for local news and a world view for Michigan’s capital region, featuring NPR, BBC World, Latinx arts and culture programming and WKAR news and sports. Classical and Jazz streams feature mostly music with quick news and weather updates. On-demand listening includes features and updates from the award-winning WKAR news team, plus select podcasts from WKAR and NPR. WKAR is mid-Michigan's premier source for spanish language news and music.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: WKAR Listen at 100% against WDET's 33%. WKAR Listen also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.1). WDET's advantage is ratings volume (15 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads 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.
WKAR Listen holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WDET has 15 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of WDET's written reviews are positive against 100% of WKAR Listen's.
WDET ships an update every 11 months, WKAR Listen every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WDET | WKAR Listen |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (15 ratings) | 4.7 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | Every 6 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 17 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Wayne State University | MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY |
Customer experience
WDET
WKAR Listen
In-app purchases
WDET
No in-app purchases
WKAR Listen
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is WDET free?
Is WKAR Listen free?
Which has better reviews, WDET or WKAR Listen?
Do WDET or WKAR Listen have ads?
Which is updated more often, WDET or WKAR Listen?
Other comparisons
