Finest radio apps for Mac and iPhone

Do you keep in mind the nice previous days when tuning into your favourite jam meant wrestling with an antenna or tangling up in a wired earpiece? Then got here the period of customized radio apps — appeared like a revolution, proper? Nicely, it was… till you hit play, and the app hit again with countless buffering.

Because of FM radio apps, now you can hearken to lots of of free web radio stations in a single app. 

Nonetheless, with a plethora of choices, selecting a radio app that delivers the very best listening experiences could be a bit tough. That is why now we have handpicked the 5 greatest radio apps for Mac and iPhone. In addition to radio, in some apps you’ll find distinctive options like AI-powered information curation and integration with Apple Music. Get pleasure from!

Finest radio apps: Fast overview

If you’ll want to make a fast resolution, listed here are our favorites and their options. For a extra detailed evaluation, maintain scrolling.

1. Eter – Finest app with a number of options for Mac and iPhone

Eter is a straightforward radio app that enables you entry to  40,000+ radio channels globally.  Of all of the radio apps we examined, Eter boasts the very best variety of distinctive options. For example, you possibly can view your searches and listening historical past days after closing the app. Additionally, Eter has pre-selected radio songs that robotically hyperlink to Apple Music. 

Furthermore, as a Mac person, you possibly can entry Eter from the menu bar whereas hiding the Dock icon for a seamless expertise. However Eter’s standout characteristic is the built-in sleep timer. Merely set the timer to 1 to 120 minutes, and there’s no want to depart the consolation of your mattress to show off the radio.

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Eter is without doubt one of the few apps accessible on each macOS and iOS. Lots of the widespread radio stations are solely accessible on iPhone, whilst you can solely entry some by way of internet app alone.  

The buffering time is swift, and switching from one radio channel to a different takes a mean of three seconds. Additionally, you possibly can seek for your favourite radio frequency or enter the URL manually in lower than seven seconds.  

What we like

• Fast buffering and radio station search time
• Sleeping timer for automated turn-off
• Listening historical past and up to date searches
• Limitless variety of favourite radio stations
• Excellent synch with Apple Music

What we do not like

2. Broadcasts – Finest radio app by station rely within the US

Broadcasts is without doubt one of the greatest and hottest radio apps for Apple units. The app options 6,000+ radio stations within the US alone and is accessible in over 80 international locations. 

Furthermore, Broadcast permits customers to filter free web radio stations primarily based on the nation, and you may simply see the listing of stations accessible in your space. 

In our testing, we discovered that switching between radio stations took us round 5 seconds, whereas looking for a brand new station took us roughly 7 seconds. Broadcasts additionally present every radio station’s web site URL or social media profile hyperlink. 

However not like Eter, Broadcast has restricted options – no sleep timer and no Apple Music synchronization. Additionally, you possibly can solely pay attention to a couple channels at no cost, relying in your location. You might want to improve to the premium model at $12.99/month to unlock limitless channels and save greater than 5 stations.

Moreover, the app’s “Recents” assortment is restricted to a couple channels. You’ll be able to play some stations, however they will not be saved as not too long ago performed. 

What we like

• The premium model is accessible in over 80 international locations.
• Greater than 6,000 stations within the US alone
• Filter radio channels primarily based on international locations
• Supplies direct hyperlinks to radio station web sites

What we do not like

• No built-in timer
• The free model solely permits saving 5 channels
• No Apple Music synchronization

3. Curio – Finest app for in-depth information and tales

Whereas not a standard radio app, Curio affords a novel and immersive approach to keep knowledgeable on information and engaging tales from all over the world. In contrast to apps that target breaking information, Curio curates in-depth evaluation, thought-provoking articles, and fascinating narratives. 

You’ll be able to hearken to knowledgeable opinions throughout 30+ prestigious media shops like The Economist, The Wall Avenue Journal, and The Washington Publish by means of the online app or on iPhone.

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Curio’s modern, audio-centric design caters to busy listeners. Its options, like bookmarking, queuing choices, and offline downloading, permit you to devour content material seamlessly at your comfort. In contrast to podcast apps that cowl varied subjects, Curio’s curation is laser-focused on delivering high-quality journalism and storytelling.

The app has a devoted session to hearken to trending information, from enterprise to world politics, economics to know-how. If fascinating long-form audio tales are your ardour, you’ll get pleasure from an immersive expertise with Curio.  

Professionals

• Hundreds of in-depth information tales and narratives
• Premium content material from over 30 prestigious world media manufacturers
• Versatile listening choices: bookmark, queue, and obtain
• No geographic restrictions
• AI for personalised content material curation (in beta)

Cons

• Has solely internet and iOS variations
• No stay FM radio stations can be found

4. iHeart radio – Finest radio app for podcasts and radio stations

For listeners who like to entry a number of choices on a single platform, iHeart is without doubt one of the hottest iPhone radio functions. The radio app seamlessly blends radio with podcast options. You’ll be able to choose your area’s native radio stations from the accessible listing.

For example, as a US listener, you possibly can entry 1,000 radio stations throughout all cities and filter primarily based in your most popular metropolis and style. However not like Broadcasts and Eter, you possibly can solely entry the web radio free in your nation and some others. For instance, US listeners can get pleasure from radio stations from each the US and Mexico.

In our assessments, the buffering time of the iHeart radio is three seconds on common, whereas discovering and connecting along with your favourite radio takes, on common, six seconds.

What we like

• Entry to 1,000 radio stations within the US alone
• Mixture of  radio stations and podcast channels
• Customization of your favourite style
• Playback and auto-replay
• Notifications for unique content material and favourite artists

What we do not like

• An app for Mac shouldn’t be accessible
• Restricted choices and not using a paid subscription of $4.99/mo
• Annoying advertisements on the free model

5. Audacy – Finest radio station for sports activities information

Only some radio apps can compete with Audacy relating to sports activities information. The radio app affords web radio free to sports activities lovers—from the NFL to the NBA and MLB. You will discover the newest sports activities information from the highest. However past sports activities, Audacy additionally has music and podcast sections. 

The music library options many genres, together with pop, nation, rock, hip-hop, basic hits, and extra. Like Curio and iHeartRadio, Audacy can be browser-based for Mac customers. Nonetheless, you will get it in your iPhone or iPad. 

Whereas the radio app has an honest person interface, it lacks many options we see in Eter and Curio. For instance, there isn’t a choice to arrange a library, bookmark, or favourite objects. Nonetheless, you will note your not too long ago performed stations, and you may queue your playlist. 

Like most radio stations on this listing, its buffering time after we examined it was between 3 and 5 seconds. It took us a mean of seven to 10 seconds for a brand new channel.  

What we like

• Numerous devoted channels for sports activities information and podcasts
• Intensive library of music channels

What we do not like

• No provision for native radio stations past sports activities
• No devoted app for Mac 
• No filtering choices for radio stations
• Very gentle in options

The general greatest radio app for iPhone and Mac – our choose

Even supposing now we have reviewed the very best FM radio apps for various events, you would possibly nonetheless need to see our general greatest. After evaluating the variety of radio stations accessible, distinctive options, reliability, and audio high quality, Eter emerges as our high radio app choose for Mac and iPhone. Its packed library of over 40,000 radio stations, Apple Music integration, and sleeper timer set it aside from the remainder.

The icing on the cake? A single Setapp subscription contains Eter and over 240 different premium Mac and iOS apps.

Able to take your radio recreation to the following stage throughout your macOS and iOS units? Begin your 7-day free Setapp trial immediately and dive into an unparalleled listening expertise with Eter, understanding you’re making a risk-free alternative.