Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

First Alert 4 vs WIVB News 4

First Alert 4 4.6★ · Free to download 40
Winner Tie
WIVB News 4 4.6★ · Free to download 45

First Alert 4 and WIVB News 4 both struggle with similar issues of excessive ads and app functionality problems, making neither a clear winner, but First Alert 4's recent negative reviews suggest a more significant decline.

Full reviews: First Alert 4 · WIVB News 4

Both First Alert 4 and WIVB News 4 are free news apps that users find frustrating due to an abundance of ads and various technical glitches. While First Alert 4 has a slightly higher lifetime rating, recent updates have led to a significant increase in negative feedback regarding usability and intrusive advertising.

Head to head

Features tieR1R3R5R6
First Alert 4 Users appreciate specific shows like 'Great Day St. Louis' R5 and the news team . However, many complain about the inability to find stories mentioned on TV R3, lack of an auto-play option for videos R6, and issues with custom notifications not working correctly R1R7. Some also note that news stories are often outdated .
WIVB News 4 Users praise specific personalities like Don Paul and the overall news team . Some find the weather forecasts to be spot on . However, users report issues with live streaming R63, difficulty finding specific information , and outdated news content, especially on weekends .
Ease of Use edge: WIVB News 4R1R35R36R38
First Alert 4 Many users report significant usability issues, especially after recent updates. Complaints include the app returning to the top of the feed after reading a story R1, difficulty navigating R36, unreadable or uneditable font sizes R35, and an inability to swipe between articles . The app is often described as 'not user friendly' and 'horrible' R38.
WIVB News 4 Some users find the app hard to follow and navigate . There are complaints about small print and the app's overall template looking poorly designed . Users also mention that videos autoplay even when disabled and the app automatically silences other audio on the phone .
Reliability tieR1R6R7R13
First Alert 4 Users frequently report issues with notifications not working R1R7R38, stories not loading R6, and the app getting worse with updates R1R13R33R35. Some experience the app opening to scam messages R13 or videos not playing .
WIVB News 4 The app is frequently reported to crash and users experience radar issues . Live streaming is often unreliable, with reports of it not coming up or hanging . One user noted a required update during a blizzard made the app useless .
Price/Value tieR16R19R20R21
First Alert 4 Both apps are free to download. First Alert 4 users express extreme frustration with the overwhelming number of ads, especially after recent updates R16R19R21. Many feel the ads interfere with accessing news, particularly during critical weather events R19R20R36.
WIVB News 4 Users of WIVB News 4 also complain extensively about the sheer volume of ads, including pop-up ads, timed ads before videos, and banner ads . Some describe the app as 'bloated with adverts' and 'random ads app, no longer a news app' .
Support tieR1R4R7R13
First Alert 4 Users frequently ask for fixes to app issues R1R4R7 and express frustration that problems persist R1R7. There's a general sentiment that the app is getting worse and needs to be fixed R1R4R7R13.
WIVB News 4 Users ask for fixes for crashing and notification issues R63R101. Some express disappointment that issues like autoplay videos are not addressed despite updates .
Pick First Alert 4 if

Pick First Alert 4 if you are a loyal viewer of KMOV's specific shows like 'Great Day St. Louis' and appreciate their news team, despite the app's significant flaws R5.

Pick WIVB News 4 if

Pick WIVB News 4 if you are a fan of their specific personalities, like Don Paul, and value their weather forecasts, and are willing to tolerate frequent app crashes and numerous ads .

Evidence note: Both apps are free, so the negativity around ads is expected from non-paying users. However, the volume and intrusiveness of ads, along with core functionality issues, are consistent complaints across both apps, suggesting a genuine problem rather than just free-tier friction. First Alert 4 has a higher volume of recent negative reviews specifically citing a decline in quality after updates.

Frequently asked

Why are there so many ads in the First Alert 4 app?
Users report that First Alert 4 has an excessive number of ads, including auto-playing videos with sound, pop-ups that block content, and ads that appear during critical weather updates, making the app difficult to use R16R19R20R33.
Does WIVB News 4 have issues with notifications?
Yes, WIVB News 4 users report issues with notifications, including receiving unwanted sports notifications despite disabling them, and the app forcing users to accept spam emails if they want to receive notifications at all R63R101.
Are there problems with video playback in First Alert 4?
Yes, First Alert 4 users frequently report problems with videos, including autoplaying with sound without an option to mute or disable R6R9R12, videos not playing after clicking a story R6, and ads interrupting video content R6R19R20.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 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. [R1] First Alert 4 1/5 · US App needs work: Many things wrong with this app, once you click a story towards the end of the “top stories”, and you’re finished reading and click back, the app always takes you to the very top - losing where you previously were. The custom notifications don’t work. I have “breaking news” only checked, but I receive notifications of the cardinals minor league team’s results. Please fix!!! This
  2. [R3] First Alert 4 3/5 · US App: Whenever I hear you say that more of the story is on their app, I cannot find it. No amount of scrolling or search words work.
  3. [R5] First Alert 4 5/5 · US Great Day St. Louis Rocks!!!: I thoroughly enjoy this show because it is not bad or sad news. It is educational, fun team to watch, I love to know about events, tips & tricks, good news, dining recommendations, & hear about the cast opinions or they share their wkd. plans. The cast is so humble. In order to enjoy my show Great Day St. Louis) & me time, I try to have my phone on silenced mode.
  4. [R6] First Alert 4 3/5 · US Needs slight improvements: There needs to an auto play option so you can opt out. Have the option to automatically playing videos or when I can just read the story. There’s a glitch where the stories I clicked to read or watch don’t come on. A bunch of advertisements come on and never show the story I clicked on.
  5. [R35] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Longtime user, first time reviewer: The current, recently updated version is horrible! Font size of headlines unreadable and not editable. More and larger size ads than actual news. Stay in your lane. I may have to go back to KSDK or Fox2Now.
  6. [R36] First Alert 4 2/5 · US It’s not your meteorologists that’s the problem. It’s your non-functioning app.: Your News App Is: More interested in providing advertisers products than providing news. It is extremely hard to navigate within your app when there is an actual tornado that might be becoming my way. Thank God, I’ve never lost WiFi Internet! I can always switch to Channel 5 when I finally give up!
  7. [R38] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Horrible!!!: This new app is the worst! Absolutely horrible! I’ve enabled alerts and have received none. Ads, ads and more ads! It won’t allow me to give 0 stars. Horrible app!
  8. [R7] First Alert 4 2/5 · US Bring back the old one: Prefer the old one better. Do not get updates or notifications, have been through my settings, have re installed too. I am die hard Channel 4 fan a not being able to notifications and getting other outlets before I get it front here … is upsetting. I have always trusted this source. If this can be fixed please assist. Thank you!
  9. [R13] First Alert 4 1/5 · US TERRIBLE APP SINCE UPDATED: WHEN TRYING TO READ A NOTIFICATION WITH NEWS IT OPENS UP CONSTANTLY THAT MY PHONE IS RESTRICTED AND HACKED BECAUSE I VISITED MANY ADULT WEBSITES. HAVE NEVER DONE ANY OF THAT EVER!!! IT WON’T LET ME GO TO ANY OF THE NEWS STORIES. GETTING REALLY FRUSTRATED AND THINKING I MIGHT HAVE TO DELETE THIS APP IF IT CANT BE STOPPED.
  10. [R16] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Too Many Ads!: … on auto play and loud af, when you close one ad, another takes its place. Back to KSDK.
  11. [R19] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Greed putting people at risk: Multiple, constant ads during a dangerous severe weather outbreak is ridiculous. Having to sit through a thirty second commercial of anything before getting to the livestream to find out if you need to be in the basement is a crazy thought and it should be illegal.
  12. [R20] First Alert 4 3/5 · US Ads interrupting vital wx news: First, this app is so useful!! But…please, please, please sort out disabling ads when we are in an emergency weather situation. If my power is out and I’m relying on the app to get the broadcast, 60 seconds wasted on a toilet paper ad could make a life or death difference.
  13. [R21] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Annoying: The ads are distracting,annoying and useless. Stick to news,weather and sports
  14. [R4] First Alert 4 1/5 · US App not reading correctly: Please fix the app
  15. [R33] First Alert 4 1/5 · US New App KMOV: The new app is horrible. You have to close an ad and tap on the small banner to even open it versus it just opening from your phone icon. In addition, there is no way to turn off the volume or remove the automatic live feed that now comes on with every story. Too many ads! Very annoying that the ads blares at you the minute you open a story.
  16. [R63] WIVB News 4 3/5 · US Notifications: The app functions well. I do miss the ability to watch live from my phone in real time in the mornings. More customization of notifications would be appreciated. I’d like to receive Breaking news & Local news notifications without Sports. My Sports notifications are disabled, but some must be sent anyway when other notification groups are enabled.
  17. [R101] WIVB News 4 1/5 · US Spam Emails: This app will spam email you not matter notifications you choose in their settings. If you choose to “deliver notification silently” in the iPhone settings, WIVB will not longer send you notifications. They force you to accept the spam emails.
  18. [R9] First Alert 4 3/5 · US Stop autoplaying videos with sound: The content is good, but I really wish there was an option to either 1) stop autoplaying videos, or 2) at least have them be muted when they do. I actually hate opening this app because it’s so obnoxious and disrupts everything I’m doing. I still do, because I want to see the content, but I don’t enjoy it.
  19. [R12] First Alert 4 3/5 · US Do not like the latest version: I've been using the KMOV App for several years now and I don’t appreciate being forced to listen to ads while reading the stories because there is no pause or volume control. I could care less how Peter Pan feels about AAA. I used to love this app, now I’m not as inclined to use it. 🥺

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store