Q101 Chicago vs Throwback 100.3
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Q101 Chicago
Listen to Chicago's alternative music station live. Stream your favorite tracks and stay updated with the latest music news and events. Enjoy a seamless audio experience for alternative music fans.
- Live radio streaming
- Alternative music focus
- Music news updates
- Event information
- Mobile audio player
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Q101 Chicago - Chicago's Alternative Station
Throwback 100.3
Stream live music from the 90s and 2000s, access exclusive podcasts, and win prizes through app-only rewards. Stay updated on concerts, promotions, and events. Enjoy personalized profiles and easy login.
- Live music streaming
- 90s and 2000s hits
- Exclusive podcasts
- App-only rewards and contests
- Concert and event notifications
- Artist information
- Personalized profile
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Get The FREE Throwback 100.3 App for All The Hits of The 90s and 2000s from Throwback 100.3 in Chicago, IL Listen to Throwback 100.3 Live from anywhere in the United States. Get access to Throwback 100.3 Podcasts, Videos, App only Rewards, promotions & events. With Throwback 100.3 Rewards, the more you listen on the Throwback 100.3 App, the more you can win! Please make sure you complete the simple registration form in the app so we can notify you if you are a winner. It’s that easy! Once you have our app, be sure to add us to your devices and stream us anywhere in the U.S. on your smart speakers, phones and tablets. Throwback 100.3 App Features - Listen Live - Easy access to SHE Podcasts - Get special notifications about concerts, contests, offers and events - Click Rewards for a chance to win great prizes - Watch Throwback 100.3 videos - Learn more about the Throwback 100.3 artists you love - Touch ID / Face ID for easier log-in - Personalized profile. The Throwback 100.3 App supports Apple Carplay. * Apple is in no way affiliated with or responsible for any contests/rewards presented with this app. * This app is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Q101 Chicago at 3.8 against Throwback 100.3's 3.1. Q101 Chicago also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 40%). Throwback 100.3's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
Q101 Chicago holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Q101 Chicago's written reviews are positive against 40% of Throwback 100.3's.
Q101 Chicago ships an update every 4 months, Throwback 100.3 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Q101 Chicago | Throwback 100.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (16 ratings) — better | 3.1 (20 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews — better | 40.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 | 20 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Cumulus Media | Hubbard Radio |
Customer experience
Q101 Chicago
Throwback 100.3
In-app purchases
Q101 Chicago
No in-app purchases
Throwback 100.3
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Q101 Chicago free?
Is Throwback 100.3 free?
Which has better reviews, Q101 Chicago or Throwback 100.3?
Do Q101 Chicago or Throwback 100.3 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Q101 Chicago or Throwback 100.3?
Other comparisons
