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Best Npr Up First Apps

243+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.4 avg rating
19 free apps
Updated August 2026

NPR is the household name in npr up first, but it's far from the only option. We track 243+ alternatives and competitors on iOS — many free, many higher-rated than you'd expect.

Compare top Npr Up First Apps (August 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1NPR: National & Local NewsNPR: National & Local NewsFree4.6★ (70K)YesNoAug 2026
2Apple PodcastsApple PodcastsFree4.9★ (2.1M)YesNoAug 2026
3FOX News: US & World HeadlinesFOX News: US & World HeadlinesFree4.5★ (535K)YesNoAug 2026
4BBC: World News & StoriesBBC: World News & StoriesFree4.5★ (86K)YesYesAug 2026
5NPR Station LocatorNPR Station Locator$0.993.1★ (13)NoNoMay 2026
6Audacy: Radio & Sports TalkAudacy: Radio & Sports TalkFree4.5★ (92K)YesNoAug 2026
7Al Jazeera - الجزيرةAl Jazeera - الجزيرةFree4.8★ (84K)YesNoAug 2026
8WHYY Listen: News & PodcastsWHYY Listen: News & PodcastsFree4.9★ (2.8K)NoNoAug 2026

Top Picks for Npr Up First

NPR: National & Local News#1

NPR: National & Local News by NPR

Podcasts. Live Radio. Music.
Editor's Choice
📡 News
4.6😐(70K ratings)
FreeAds
#25in News
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 1
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 2
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 3
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 4
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 5
NPR: National & Local News screenshot 6

Access breaking news, in-depth stories, and personalized audio streams from public radio. Discover podcasts, enjoy live music performances, and stream radio content from across the country. Enhance your listening experience with smart features and support public media.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Great but loses track after inactivity
  • 🚀 Excellent content
  • 🚀 Very high quality and reliable news
  • 🚀 Balanced and well-presented/organized news

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 App used 79GB of data in two weeks
  • 🐛 Broken, freezes, and crashes frequently
  • 🐛 Poor UI with ads
Apple Podcasts#2

Apple Podcasts by Apple

Audio and video podcasts
Strong Contender
🎬 Entertainment
4.9😞(2.1M ratings)
FreeAds
Apple Podcasts screenshot 1
Apple Podcasts screenshot 2
Apple Podcasts screenshot 3
Apple Podcasts screenshot 4
Apple Podcasts screenshot 5
Apple Podcasts screenshot 6

Discover and listen to a vast library of podcasts that entertain, inform, and inspire. Get personalized recommendations and curated collections to explore new shows. Seamlessly sync your listening progress across all your Apple devices.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
  • 🎨 Sleek and modern user interface
  • 💯 Vast library of podcast content
  • 🔍 Helpful podcast discovery features

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable playback
  • 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive navigation
  • 🔀 Inconsistent episode ordering and playlist management

More Npr Up First apps to explore

4
BBC: World News & Stories
BBC: World News & Stories
BBC: World News & Stories
Breaking News, Podcasts, Video
Free

Access breaking news, in-depth articles, podcasts, and live video streams from a trusted global news network. Enjoy documentaries, sports updates, and customizable alerts. Save content for later and listen to radio shows on demand.

Breaking news headlines and articlesLive global news and sport updatesOn-demand podcasts and radio shows
📡 News
(86K)
free with in-app purchases
5
NPR Station Locator
NPR Station Locator
NPR Station Locator
by iStuff
$0.99

Easily find National Public Radio (NPR) stations wherever you are. This app provides both a list and a map view of nearby NPR affiliates, ensuring you never miss your favorite programs while traveling. It also offers Apple Watch support for convenient access.

Find nearby NPR stationsList view of stationsMap view of stations
🔍 Reference
(13)
free
6
Audacy: Radio & Sports Talk
Audacy: Radio & Sports Talk
Audacy: Radio & Sports Talk
Your Stations, News, Podcasts
Free

Access your favorite radio stations, live sports talk, news, and podcasts all in one free application. Enjoy on-demand content, exclusive extras, and save your preferred audio for later listening.

Live sports talk and play-by-playLocal and national news radioOn-demand music stations
🎵 Music
(92K)
free with in-app purchases
7
Al Jazeera - الجزيرة
Al Jazeera - الجزيرة
Al Jazeera - الجزيرة
Global News, One App
Free

Access breaking global news, in-depth analysis, and live broadcasts from around the world. Stay informed with tailored stories, podcasts, and breaking news alerts on politics, sports, and current events.

Live news and analysisExclusive breaking news alertsPodcast content
📡 News
(84K)
free with in-app purchases
8
WHYY Listen: News & Podcasts
WHYY Listen: News & Podcasts
WHYY Listen: News & Podcasts
Member supported public media
Free

Stream live radio, access on-demand audio stories, and immerse yourself in local and national podcasts. Rewind live broadcasts, replay past shows, and build a personalized listening queue for a seamless audio experience tailored to your schedule.

Rewindable live radio streamReplay past shows from the last weekExtensive podcast library
📡 News
(2.8K)
free
9
Scripps News
Scripps News
Scripps News
Fact-Based News Reporting
Free

Access fact-based news reporting with live breaking news and on-the-ground coverage from a dedicated team. Stream news for free on your favorite app or smart TV.

Live breaking newsOn-the-ground reportingFact-based journalism
📡 News
(10K)
ad-supported
10
Conservative News
Conservative News
Conservative News
Breaking Headlines & Politics
Free

This app delivers news summaries on politics, entertainment, and current events with a focus on conservative and center-based content. It offers a fast and easy-to-navigate reading experience for users seeking optimized conservative news.

News summariesPolitics, entertainment, current eventsConservative and center-based news
📡 News
(46K)
free with in-app purchases
11
WUWM Milwaukee’s NPR
WUWM Milwaukee’s NPR
WUWM Milwaukee’s NPR
by UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE
Free

Listen to live public radio streams, pause and rewind live audio, and access on-demand programs. Explore content, set alarms, and share stories with friends and family.

Live audio streamingPause and rewind live audioOn-demand program access
📡 News
(92)
free
12
WVIK Quad Cities NPR
WVIK Quad Cities NPR
WVIK Quad Cities NPR
by Augustana College
Free

Listen to live and on-demand content from your favorite NPR station. Pause, rewind, and fast-forward live streams, access past programs, and set alarms. Share stories and explore program-related web pages.

Live streaming with DVR controlsOn-demand past programsIntegrated program schedules
📡 News
(23)
free
13
WDIY 88.1 NPR Radio
WDIY 88.1 NPR Radio
WDIY 88.1 NPR Radio
for the Lehigh Valley
Free

Listen to NPR and community radio broadcasts from the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, wherever you go. This app brings music, arts, news, and diverse cultural information directly to your device, allowing you to stay connected to your local community's voice.

Live radio streamingNPR and community contentMusic, arts, and news
🎬 Entertainment
(5)
free
14
Epoch Times: Live & Breaking
Epoch Times: Live & Breaking
Epoch Times: Live & Breaking
National, World News & Alerts
Free

Access authentic, in-depth news on world events, politics, and culture. Stay informed with breaking alerts, live streams, exclusive video series, and opinion pieces. Enjoy features like offline reading and text-to-audio.

Breaking news alertsLive stream notificationsExclusive video series
📡 News
(266K)
free with in-app purchases
15
KUNC Public Radio App
KUNC Public Radio App
KUNC Public Radio App
by Community Radio for Northern Colorado
Free

Listen to live public radio, pause and rewind audio, and access on-demand programs. Search for stories, bookmark content for later, and use the built-in alarm clock to wake up to your favorite station.

Live streaming with DVR controlsOn-demand program accessStory and program search
🎵 Music
(85)
free
16
WBEZ
WBEZ
WBEZ
Chicago's NPR News Station
Free

Listen to Chicago's NPR news station live or on-demand. Access local and national news, podcasts, and investigative journalism from WBEZ and its partners. Catch up on missed shows with rewind functionality.

Live radio streamingOn-demand audio featuresPodcast library
📡 News
(623)
ad-supported
17
WAMC Public Radio
WAMC Public Radio
WAMC Public Radio
by WAMC
Free

Stream live public radio programming from a network serving seven northeastern states. Catch up on NPR news and local stories, and access on-demand content on your mobile device.

Live radio streamingNPR news updatesLocal story coverage
📡 News
(99)
free
18
WNYC
WNYC
WNYC
Tap into the NY conversation
Free

Access live and on-demand news, commentary, culture, storytelling, and music from New York's public radio station and its partners. Save podcasts for offline listening and stay updated on local and national headlines.

Live broadcast streamingOn-demand news and commentaryPodcast saving for offline listening
📡 News
(793)
free with in-app purchases
19
HPR
HPR
HPR
by Hawaii Public Radio
Free

Listen to live public radio streams with DVR-like controls, explore on-demand programs from various providers, and bookmark favorite content. Search for stories, set alarms, and share programs with ease.

Live streaming with pause and rewindOn-demand program accessSearch for stories and programs
🎬 Entertainment
(238)
free
20
St. Louis Public Radio App
St. Louis Public Radio App
St. Louis Public Radio App
by University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis Public Radio
Free

Listen to live public radio, pause and rewind audio, and browse program schedules. Explore on-demand content, search for stories, bookmark favorites, and use the alarm clock feature to wake up to your favorite station.

Live audio streaming with DVR controlsOn-demand content accessStory and program search
🎵 Music
(193)
ad-supported

FAQ about Npr Up First

What are the best npr up first apps for iPhone?
NPR: National & Local News tops our npr up first apps ranking as of August 2026, with a 4.6-star average from 70K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 19 of the top npr up first apps we rank are free to download, including NPR: National & Local News and Apple Podcasts.
NPR: National & Local News shows ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of August 2026.
We track 243+ npr up first apps on the iOS App Store as of August 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
The NPR app provides access to the latest news, in-depth stories, and a personalized stream of audio content from public radio. It also features a wide selection of podcasts, live radio streams, and music content, including Tiny Desk Concerts.
Key features include a personalized NPR One stream, a curated podcast library with editor recommendations, full Tiny Desk Concert videos, live radio streaming, and connectivity with devices like Chromecast and Apple CarPlay. Users can also integrate with smart speakers.