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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

iHeart vs Spotify

iHeart 4.8★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner Spotify
Spotify 4.8★ · Free to download 70

For a more stable and less ad-heavy experience, especially if you're a free user, Spotify has a slight edge over iHeart, despite both apps facing criticism regarding ads and occasional performance issues.

Full reviews: iHeart · Spotify

Both iHeart and Spotify offer extensive music and podcast libraries, but user reviews indicate Spotify generally provides a more reliable streaming experience with fewer critical bugs, even though both free tiers are plagued by frequent ads. iHeart struggles with consistent buffering and app crashes, which are less prevalent in Spotify's reviews.

Head to head

Features and Content Variety tieR9R19R21R22
iHeart iHeart users appreciate its wide variety of music, radio stations, and podcasts, with some finding it a comprehensive 'everything media app' R19R21. Users enjoy the ability to create and expand playlists with similar artists . However, some find the podcast selection lacking in specific niche content R9 and note issues with content being behind a paywall or not working as advertised R22R26.
Spotify Spotify is praised for its vast music library, excellent music quality, and personalized playlists and recommendations . Users love the variety of music and podcasts available . However, some free users complain about not being able to play specific songs or manage their playlists without a premium subscription R79. There are also complaints about poor song rotation and repetitive suggestions .
Ease of Use and User Experience edge: SpotifyR4R7R10R12
iHeart iHeart users report significant issues with the app's usability, including constant buffering and stalling R4R7R15, frequent crashes R12R18, and songs stopping after every play R4. Some also find the UI buggy and complicated, with elements like the search bar being cut off R26. Signing in can also be problematic R10.
Spotify Spotify is generally considered easy to navigate with good music quality . However, recent updates have led to complaints of the app being slow and laggy , with some users experiencing crashes when trying to custom mix songs . There are also reports of songs randomly changing or playlists not loading R85.
Reliability and Performance edge: SpotifyR4R7R12R15
iHeart iHeart is frequently criticized for its poor reliability. Users report the app constantly buffers and stalls, even when other apps with video run smoothly R7R15. It often stops playing after every song R4 and crashes frequently, especially after updates R12R18. Some users describe it as glitchy and spotty, failing to connect to stations .
Spotify Spotify generally receives positive feedback for its smooth playback . However, some users have recently experienced issues like the app putting them in offline mode despite having full signal , slow loading times, and lag . There are also reports of the app being glitchy and buggy after updates .
Price and Value (Free vs. Paid) tieR1R6R16R26
iHeart iHeart's free tier is heavily criticized for an excessive number of long commercials, with users reporting 8 commercials for every two songs or endless commercial loops R1R6R30R38. Paying for an 'ad-free subscription' doesn't always deliver, as some users still experience ads for podcasts or stations R16. Many free users feel that desired content is paywalled or doesn't work properly R26.
Spotify Spotify's free tier is widely criticized for frequent and numerous ads, with some users reporting 4-5 advertisements after each song . Free users also face limitations like not being able to skip songs, shuffle freely, or listen to specific songs on demand R59R79. Many users feel the app is 'terrible without premium' R69.
Customer Support tieR20R46R51R85
iHeart iHeart has one positive mention of developers responding to an issue R46. However, there are also complaints about the app having issues for months with no repair or solution R20.
Spotify Spotify users express frustration over the lack of direct customer support, with one user stating there's 'no way to talk to Spotify' after losing a playlist R51. Another user tried Spotify help for a song-changing issue but found no assistance R85.
Pick iHeart if

You prioritize live radio and a broad mix of channels, and are willing to tolerate frequent ads or pay for the ad-free version which some find effective .

Pick Spotify if

You want a vast music library with good recommendations and generally smoother playback, and are willing to pay for premium to avoid ads and unlock full features, or tolerate the limitations of the free tier .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews, primarily centered on ads for their free tiers and performance issues. Spotify has a much larger user base and thus more reviews, but the nature of complaints is similar across both apps regarding ads and occasional glitches. iHeart's negative reviews more frequently cite critical app failures like constant buffering and crashing.

Frequently asked

Which app has fewer ads?
Both iHeart and Spotify's free tiers are heavily criticized for frequent and long advertisements R1R6R38. iHeart users report 'endless commercial loops' and up to '8 commercials for every two songs' R30R38, while Spotify users mention '4-5 advertisements after each song' .
Do the paid versions of iHeart and Spotify remove all ads?
For iHeart, some users who paid for an 'add free subscription' still reported experiencing ads for podcasts or stations R16. Spotify's premium tier is generally understood to remove ads and unlock full features, but the reviews primarily focus on the free tier experience R59R69R79.
Which app is more reliable in terms of performance?
Spotify appears to be slightly more reliable, with fewer critical complaints about constant buffering and crashing compared to iHeart R7R12R18. While Spotify also has reports of lag and glitches, iHeart users frequently describe the app as 'utterly sucks' due to constant stalling and stopping after every song R4R7.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 110 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. [R9] iHeart 3/5 · US Easier to find podcast: There needs to be more variety of Live murder cases like not people talking bout it - like hear the episode as it’s happening on tv not in a interview room…n live radio isn’t live??
  2. [R19] iHeart 5/5 · US Various music topics: Great podcast, radio station s, genre
  3. [R21] iHeart 5/5 · US Everything Radio App: This is my everything media app
  4. [R22] iHeart 1/5 · US Free FIFA: Says plays all games live on special channel plays basketball after show instead
  5. [R4] iHeart 1/5 · US Just stops playing: For months now the app has just been stopping after every song that plays. I’ve tried restarting and updating but so far nothing has worked. Update June 2026: I gave up. Even after uninstalling and reinstalling it still doesn’t work. Now it won’t play at all.
  6. [R7] iHeart 1/5 · US Buffers/stalls when others don’t!: Utterly sucks. Buffers/stalls CONSTANTLY! Problem is in the app, not my service. Apps with audio AND VIDEO (YouTube, Amazon) run smooth. Fire your engineers. They should be ashamed
  7. [R10] iHeart 1/5 · US Fix it: You can’t even sign into it on an iPhone because of your stupid security thing Asking me what buses and sidewalks are and not giving me a option to finish
  8. [R12] iHeart 3/5 · US App crash: I really like the app, until it crashes. This happens too much.
  9. [R15] iHeart 3/5 · US Notification and buffering: I like that I can find over my podcast on this app. The only problems I have is if I don’t have a perfect signal it will not play it just buffers. The other apps play my podcast just fine whenever I’m in these areas. It’s not necessarily even a low signal always. It’s very temperamental when it comes to how much service I get. I also don’t like that I constantly have a
  10. [R1] iHeart 1/5 · US Sucks: Got to many adds now I be making it to my destination before I get a chance to listen to music
  11. [R6] iHeart 3/5 · US Commercials are way too long!: Commercials are way too long
  12. [R16] iHeart 1/5 · US Paid for add free, but still is not add free.: So I have been trying to put up with this for a while. But after an almost 5 minute long add for a podcast I couldn’t care less about, I am done being nice. I am paying for an “add free subscription” I expect no adds. That means when I open the app (when it doesn’t crash) not to have an add for this station or that artist or this event. When I am list
  13. [R26] iHeart 1/5 · US Good Luck with “Free” Content: Everything you might want here is either gated behind a paywall or doesn’t work properly with buggy, complicated UI smashed between advertisements, and in general is an indecipherably complicated mess of an application.
  14. [R20] iHeart 1/5 · US App repeats: This app has had issues for months and I T refuse to repair or have no clue how to do their job!!!!!
  15. [R46] iHeart 5/5 · US App stopped working, but found the problem: My use of a VPN app caused my iHeart app to stop working. After disconnecting the VPN connection, it started working again. Thanks to app developers for responding to my issue! ❤️
  16. [R51] Spotify 1/5 · US Lost play list: No way to talk to Spotify I have lost my playlist and my Spotify account seems to be corrupted. However I have my Spotify on my iPad and it is working How can o grout transfer from my iPad to my iPhone. and who can help me. Please
  17. [R85] Spotify 1/5 · GB Song just randomly changes: So I was just using Spotify like I’d always done until nearly two weeks ago now my songs kept on and on changing. My auto play isn’t turned on. I tried signing in and out, no luck. So I reached out for help on Spotify help but nobody could help me. I also think that premium is way too expensive
  18. [R30] iHeart 1/5 · US Endless commercial loops: This app stinks. All I want to do is to get in and listen to my local news and you get stuck in endless loops of commercials. When trying to listen to 700 WLW for news back home, all it does is go into commercial after commercial commercial. It has been doing this for a while and it’s not a glitch. This app is it disappointment.
  19. [R38] iHeart 1/5 · US 8 commercials for every two songs is ridiculous: You get to hear two songs for every 8 commercial is ridiculous. I won’t ever purchase anything from these commercials and hope others refuse to as well. About to delete this app permanently and just go back to iTunes.
  20. [R59] Spotify 3/5 · US Be nicer to free listeners: Without premium it’s trash so it’s bad for children or people without money.
  21. [R69] Spotify 1/5 · US Terrible without premium: This app is terrible without premium
  22. [R79] Spotify 1/5 · GB Pay to win.: Can’t even listen to my own playlist without paying for premium!! I can’t skip songs, I can’t make a queue. Pay to win and it’s disgusting
  23. [R18] iHeart 1/5 · US The App Sucks! After its most recent update, I have had nothing but crashes. The app fails to load.: The App Sucks! After its most recent update, I have had nothing but crashes. The app fails to load. I hope the sponsors take note. I don’t have time on my job site to mess around with a dial. I found another app that doesn’t give me these problems. Good riddance.

Synthesized from 110 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store