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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Is it worth paying for

Simple Radio

45
Value score / 100 Worth paying? No Skip it

Simple Radio offers a wide selection of stations and good sound quality for free, but recent updates have introduced frequent interruptions, crashes, and intrusive ads that diminish the user experience, making the paid version questionable given reports of subscription issues.

Free + in-app purchases seen up to $39.99 4.7★ lifetime (523,699) since 2014

Simple Radio provides access to numerous local and international radio stations with good sound quality, and many users enjoy its simplicity and station variety R13R20R32R40. However, recent updates have led to frequent app crashes, audio cut-outs, and highly intrusive ads that disrupt listening, with some users reporting issues even after paying for a subscription R1R6. The value of paying is further undermined by difficulties canceling trials and reports of subscriptions not being honored R3R21R34.

Free vs paid

The free version of Simple Radio offers access to a wide variety of local and international radio stations R20R40. However, it is heavily monetized with frequent and obstructive ads, including video ads that take over the stream and sometimes cannot be closed, forcing users to restart the app R26R31R41R48. Some users also report that the app used to play in the background and without ads, but this is no longer the case R33R42. The paid version aims to remove ads, but some users have reported issues with their subscriptions not being recognized after paying R3R34. There are also complaints about the difficulty of canceling free trials R21.

Value complaints

  • Paid subscriptions do not always work, with users being asked to pay again or finding fewer stations available after payment.R3R34
  • The app features highly intrusive and frequent ads, including video ads that disrupt the stream and are sometimes difficult to close, making the free version almost unusable.R26R31R41R42
  • Canceling the free trial is difficult, leading to feelings of being trapped into a subscription.R21
  • Some users dislike the subscription model and would prefer a one-time payment option.R48

Where it delivers

  • The app is simple to use and has a nice interface.R6R13R19R50
  • It offers a wide variety of local and international radio stations.R8R10R20R40
  • The sound quality is generally good and clear.R32R44
  • Includes useful features like a sleep timer and dark mode.R19R43
Worth paying if

The paid version might be worth it if you are a heavy user who finds the ads completely unbearable and if the subscription issues reported by others have been resolved, which is not clear from the reviews R3R34R41.

Skip / stay free if

You should skip paying for Simple Radio if you are concerned about frequent app crashes, audio cut-outs, or if you are unwilling to deal with potentially unacknowledged subscriptions or difficulties canceling trials R1R6R21. Given the current issues, it's better to explore alternatives like MyTunerRadio, which has been noted as more reliable .

Evidence note: Reviews are generally mixed, with many positive reviews praising the app's simplicity and station variety, but a significant number of recent negative reviews highlight critical issues with ads, stability, and subscription management. The pricing information is limited to price points seen, without clear details on what each tier offers.

Frequently asked

Does Simple Radio have ads?
Yes, the free version of Simple Radio has frequent and obstructive ads, including video ads that can take over the stream and are sometimes difficult to close, often forcing users to restart the app R26R31R41R48.
Does Simple Radio work reliably?
Simple Radio's reliability has decreased, with many users reporting frequent audio cut-outs, app crashes, and the app turning off when the screen sleeps or when switching to other apps R1R6R7R14.
Are there issues with Simple Radio subscriptions?
Yes, some users have reported issues with paid subscriptions not being recognized, being asked to pay again after already subscribing, and difficulty canceling free trials R3R21R34.
Can Simple Radio play in the background?
While some users previously noted it could play in the background, recent reviews indicate that the app often turns off when the screen sleeps or when users switch to other apps, suggesting background play is no longer reliable or consistent R7R14R33.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 50 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] 1/5 · CA Fausse publicité: Lorsque que j’ai décidé de me procurer l’application j’ai vu une vingtaine de postes disponibles dont plusieurs à l’étranger ( usa Australie Mexique Toronto ) une fois que j’ai payé pour un an. Quelques temps après, seulement une dizaines de postes sont disponibles dont plusieurs que j’ai de disponibles dans la radio locale ( Quebec , Canada )
  2. [R34] 1/5 · CA Ripped me off: I paid for a Year subscription and now 2 months later it’s asking me to subscribe and pay again. The app support doesn’t allow for feedback or questions
  3. [R26] 3/5 · CA Obstructive ads: Obstructive ads for apps I already have
  4. [R31] 1/5 · CA Works well except: Works well but pop up ads have a x placed in a corner and sometimes can’t be gotten out of and closing it down turns feed off very frustrating so I go back to Sirrus
  5. [R41] 1/5 · CA App rendered useless, because of so many ads: Why offer something free when it doesn’t even work in the first place? The ads are so prevalent. It has rendered the app useless. Thanks for nothing. And I’ll never pay for radio.
  6. [R42] 1/5 · CA Bad with non stop advertising: Good but gone bad and absolutely annoying with non stop advertisements that cut the music, can’t even listen and close the iPad screen which was possible before.
  7. [R21] 2/5 · CA Hard to cancel: Spent so much time trying to cancel the FREE 7 day trial. Part of their plan to trap you. Still haven’t found how to cancel. Google search didn’t help.
  8. [R48] 3/5 · CA Ads too obstructive: App looked great at first. Simple and to the point. Until I got ads that take over the stream and, in one instance, I could not close it (even when it ended) so had to hard close the app. I don’t mind embedded ads in the app, but videos before playing an audio stream is too much. I don’t like the subscription model either. I would have paid a one time fee to unlock premium, bu
  9. [R6] 1/5 · CA Crashes continually: Love the app, such a simple and nice looking interface. Lately though the app is doing almost nothing but crashing every minute or so.
  10. [R13] 5/5 · CA Simple radio: This is an excellent app to find and listen to your favourite radio stations! I’d recommend this app to anyone who wants to listen to the radio via iPad/iPhone!
  11. [R19] 5/5 · CA Simple radio works great: Simple radio does what it’s name implies. It works and it’s simple to use. Also, I use the sleep timing feature- again, works great.
  12. [R50] 5/5 · CA Easy to use: Very easy to use and great choice of stations
  13. [R8] 5/5 · CA Keeping me connected 💯📛♨️🔥: From Toronto to beautiful TNT Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 one love Jai shanti
  14. [R10] 5/5 · CA Great: I listen to News Talk 1010everyday! But a while ago it seemed to need pay for it then I switched to another media. Today I am surprised to see it comes back! Thank you so much!
  15. [R20] 4/5 · CA Fantastic: Simple Radio is amazing. I love listening to all the different channels from all over the world. 🇨🇦
  16. [R40] 5/5 · CA I love this App.: This App has the best radio stations worldwide.
  17. [R32] 5/5 · CA Awesome: Great sound. Clearer then actual radio. I always use this Thanks for the great app
  18. [R44] 5/5 · CA Super App: Great sound quality, tons of stations, barely any ads - amazing!
  19. [R43] 4/5 · CA Dark mode!: Great! There is a dark mode now!
  20. [R1] 3/5 · CA Coupure: Coupures de plus en plus fréquentes Bizarre et déplaisant
  21. [R7] 3/5 · CA App closes prematurely: I open the app on my iPhone and start listening to whatever station I select. However, if I want to switch to another app like my messages for example, the app turns off. This does not happen with my iPad. It also turns off if I let the phone screen go to black. Only if an ad pops up will it stay on.
  22. [R14] 1/5 · CA Shuts off with screen sleep: This app will work great for days and then for days it won’t play because it shuts off when the screen goes to sleep. I only switched to this app because it doesn’t run in the background as much as others but useless half the time so will find something else again.
  23. [R33] 4/5 · CA Not what it use to be: Not as reliable as it used to be. Keeps dropping out. Too many commercials Use to play in background. Not now.

Synthesized from 50 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store