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

Simple Radio vs Radio FM

Simple Radio 4.7★ · Free + IAP 70
Winner Simple Radio
Radio FM 4.6★ · Free to download 45

Simple Radio is generally preferred for its wider station selection and consistent functionality, despite significant issues with ads and accidental favorite deletions, while Radio FM struggles with more severe ad problems and functionality bugs.

Full reviews: Simple Radio · Radio FM

Simple Radio offers a vast selection of stations and a clean UI, but is plagued by intrusive ads, even for paying users, and a frustrating favorites management system. Radio FM also suffers from excessive and often malicious ads, along with frequent freezing and difficulty changing stations, making it a less reliable option.

Head to head

Features & Station Selection edge: Simple RadioR1R2R8R14
Simple Radio Simple Radio is praised for its wide selection of content, including stations not found on other apps, and the ability to listen to international radio R1R2R8R14. Users appreciate finding their favorite stations from their home countries and other states R8R14R30. Some users wish for a radio dial or song display R2.
Radio FM Radio FM also offers a good selection of stations, with users appreciating the variety and ability to find specific genres or local stations . However, some users report that specific stations they search for are not found or do not work R75. There are also complaints about a lack of specific genres like 20s, 30s, 40s, or real Calypso radio .
Ease of Use & UI edge: Simple RadioR3R5R12R15
Simple Radio Simple Radio is generally liked for its clean and simple UI R12R15. However, a significant design flaw is the ease with which users accidentally remove favorite stations with a single touch, a problem reported for years without a fix R3R15. Some users also report issues with the Apple Watch layout R5 and a desire for a more traditional radio interface with a tuner knob and power button .
Radio FM Radio FM has issues with its user interface, including difficulty changing stations, often requiring multiple clicks R75. Users also desire a more logical or alphabetized order for station searches and categories . Some users experience freezing screens upon opening the app or after closing an ad R69.
Reliability & Performance edge: Simple RadioR6R18R24R37
Simple Radio Simple Radio users report issues with stations not loading R6, dropping connection frequently , or pausing R24. Some users also experience the app not opening after reinstalling R18 or shutting off unexpectedly R37.
Radio FM Radio FM has significant reliability issues, including the app not opening at all for some users , crashing after closing ads R69, or freezing frequently, requiring reinstallation . Many users report that the app stops playing music when the phone locks and that stations are unreliable and constantly pause R75.
Price & Value (Ads) tieR4R9R10R13
Simple Radio Simple Radio is free with in-app purchases, but users widely complain about an excessive number of ads, even after paying for a premium subscription R4R9R13. These ads are described as intrusive, playing over shows, locking out the app, or containing malware and phishing scams R10. Some users feel it's a 'robbery' to pay and still get ads .
Radio FM Radio FM is free to download but is heavily criticized for an overwhelming number of ads and pop-ups, which destroy the user experience . These ads often prevent music from playing, appear every time the app is switched or the phone is unlocked, and can even be malicious, displaying messages about Trojans or malware . Users who paid for a subscription report that ads still appear .
Support & Development tieR3R15R40R49
Simple Radio Simple Radio users report that feedback regarding issues like the accidental deletion of favorites has been ignored for years R3R15. Some users also complain about automatic deductions for subscriptions they didn't intend R49 and a lack of clear information about paid features R40.
Radio FM Radio FM has received some positive feedback for an update that fixed an account registration issue . However, other users report persistent issues like stations not working after being reported multiple times and difficulties with account creation due to password requirements .
Pick Simple Radio if

You prioritize a wide selection of international and hard-to-find stations and a generally clean interface, and are willing to tolerate significant ad interruptions and a frustrating favorites management system R2R8R14.

Pick Radio FM if

You are looking for a radio app that works well with external Bluetooth speakers like JBL and are perhaps using an older device where it might perform better , but be prepared for a very high volume of intrusive and potentially malicious ads .

Evidence note: Both apps have a large number of recent negative reviews primarily focused on excessive and intrusive ads, even for paid users. The free-vs-paid asymmetry is evident, with many free users complaining about ads, but paid users also report ads, indicating a significant problem for both apps' monetization strategies.

Frequently asked

Do Simple Radio and Radio FM have a lot of ads?
Yes, both Simple Radio and Radio FM are heavily criticized for an excessive number of ads, even for users who have paid for a premium subscription R4R9R13. Users report ads that are intrusive, play over content, lock the app, or contain malware and phishing scams R10.
Can I listen to international stations on these apps?
Yes, Simple Radio is highly praised for its ability to let users listen to their favorite stations from their home countries and other states, offering a wide selection of international radio R8R14R30R36. Radio FM also offers a variety of stations, though some users report difficulty finding specific international or local stations .
Are there any known bugs or glitches?
Yes, Simple Radio has a persistent bug where users accidentally delete favorite stations with a single touch, a problem reported for years without a fix R3R15. Radio FM users frequently report the app freezing, crashing after ads, or stopping playback when the phone locks R69R75.

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] Simple Radio 2/5 · US Annoying noise: I like the wide selection of content, so it is difficult to understand why they play an annoying noise instead of ads.
  2. [R2] Simple Radio 5/5 · US Simple Radio: Hello, Simple Radio is an excellent app has all the stations that I can’t find or have been removed on other apps that I listen to. I do have one question however why is there no radio dial on the app? Just wondering out of curiosity and hopefully it will be added someday. Thank you very much for your time. Timothy or Midgett.
  3. [R8] Simple Radio 5/5 · US Simply the best: I listen my favorite station from my country and other states
  4. [R14] Simple Radio 5/5 · US Excelente: La mejor para escuchar la variedad de radio en mi caso de México
  5. [R3] Simple Radio 3/5 · US Good but…: Be careful using favorites. I have a curated set of favorites that I surf daily. One accidental touch on the right side, where the stars are and POOF the favorite is gone. This happens to me on a regular basis and is wildly frustrating. I have reported this to Simple Radio, begging for a little more friction in this feature. No change in years.
  6. [R5] Simple Radio 5/5 · US Apple watch 8 Layout: Apple watch 8 has wrong layout to radio station list and play screen. I have to drag down to adjust the wrong favorite display or go to recently played screen and back to favorite. Apple Watch OS seems to mismatch Simple Radio app. Apple Watch 5 doesn’t have this problem. Pls fix it as soon as possible.
  7. [R12] Simple Radio 3/5 · US Clean UI, but no lifetime option: Really was hoping for a lifetime subscription option as I like the UI.
  8. [R15] Simple Radio 3/5 · GB Please introduce Favourites lock: I like the simplicity and functionlity of this app a lot, but for me there is a noticeable design fault. My 84 year old mother pays for the premium version and constantly acccidentally clicks on the blue star in the favourites section and accidentally removes some station or other from her favourites. She is not tech savvy at all and explaining to her how to searc
  9. [R6] Simple Radio 3/5 · US Only works with VPN: Only works with VPN, takes a long time to load the station · translated
  10. [R18] Simple Radio 3/5 · GB Same problem as other people: Worked really well for ages, now will not open. Deleted & reinstalled twice but still not working, time to find another app I suppose.
  11. [R24] Simple Radio 3/5 · GB Good app but keeps pausing.: Had to uninstall it as there is a 1 second pause every (about) 1-2 minutes. Very annoying.
  12. [R37] Simple Radio 1/5 · US simple Radio FM: enjoying listen to it but keep shut off most the times so hope turn off and app again fix the bug issues
  13. [R4] Simple Radio 1/5 · US Too many ads local and international: Horrible app now used to be great but now i have to listen to local and intl ads
  14. [R9] Simple Radio 3/5 · US queja: por que si pago suscripcion, cuando entrona cualquiera de mis favoritos, entran comerciales? no se supone que no debiera?
  15. [R10] Simple Radio 1/5 · US Supports illegal phishing scams: They don’t filter their ads, so they include malware and phishing attacks.
  16. [R13] Simple Radio 2/5 · US Mucha publicidad: Aunque pagues premium siguen apareciendo estos espantosos comerciales de Toyota
  17. [R40] Simple Radio 5/5 · US $39.99 plus tax: I paid $40 for what I need money back or tell me how to get my $40 worth of music
  18. [R49] Simple Radio 2/5 · US I did not subscribe the app automatically deducted my money from my account please refund my money: Thank you so much
  19. [R30] Simple Radio 5/5 · US IDI AMIN: My favorite App to connect with the world beyond United Nations. Listening to all my favorites, choices and exploration.
  20. [R36] Simple Radio 5/5 · US Mejor radio: Una app que te permite escuchar miles de emisoras de radio a nivel mundial
  21. [R69] Radio FM 3/5 · US Why is my location blocked?: Why is my location blocked? It used to work fine in Hong Kong, but after the update, it crashes after closing the ad! I hope this gets fixed soon.
  22. [R75] Radio FM 3/5 · US App is “okay” and has issues: Would be a great app if they could fix issues. For one, it is difficult to change stations. If I am listening to one station and try to listen to another, it simply plays the existing station and I have to click on the new one several time before it actually changes. Second, some of the stations are unreliable and constantly pause during the middle of a song. And last

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