There are all kinds of situations in which we turn to the radio to help us pass time, enjoy the day, maybe help us through a workout, get through the morning commute, and more. However, just because you’re in the mood for a little music on the radio doesn’t always mean you’re near the actual radio. This is exactly what apps that stream radio have become so popular as it gives you that flexibility to enjoy exactly what you’re looking for on your mobile device anytime. As well, these streaming radio apps typically include added features and tools that you just won’t have access to if you’re listening to the traditional form of the radio.
The best streaming radio apps for iPhone and iPad
8 Jun 2021, by  Cherry Mae Torrevillas
The Old Friends Radio app plays Bebop, Blues, Big Band, Jazz, Stride and Swing from the 1920's through 1968. Curated from the original shellac 78 and 45 RPM singles as well as 33 RPM Long Play Vinyl, much of this music is unavailable anywhere else.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all the Jazz FM radio refuses to spin. Send a request to [email protected].
- Radio streaming app on your iPhone
- From 1920 to 1968
- 24 hours a day
- 7 days a week
Expanding on this topic, you can read our great guide on best FM transmitters as well.
Download SuperHits 93.5, a real superhits radio app and enjoy a great variety of music hits. Up to six members of your family can share this radio app.
- Livestream
- Song request
- Superhits online
- Superhits Mornings, Weekdays, Weekends
- Detailed information on songs
- Sports
LIVE SPORTS. MUSIC. NEWS. PODCASTS. TuneIn brings together live sports, music, news, podcasts and AM & FM radio from around the world in one free app. Featuring the world’s largest library of live, on-demand and original audio at your fingertips, hear what matters most to you, discover new moments that move you.
- Sport, exclusive music channels, news, more than 5.7 million podcasts and over 100,000 AM and FM radio stations globally.
- Listen to the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, commercial-free news from MSNBC, CNBC and Fox News Talk.
- Never miss a live sports game ever again!
- Experience live 24-hour news from local, national and global sources.
If you love music, then the iHeartRadio app is the app for you without any doubt. As soon as you open the app you'll be able to check out music from all around the world, which really opens the doors from what you may typically listen to. It's completely free to use and features live streaming radio stations from within the country and outside of the United States. You'll be able to access both AM and FM stations, so the sky is the limit here. The app also gives you the ability to personalize it so you can put together your own "station" filled with all your favorite music and artists.
- The app is free to use
- Live stream radio stations in the United States and around the world
- Build your own personalized radio station
- The app is user-friendly
TIDAL is a one-stop shop music app which can be downloaded for free if you want to give it a spin. The full access monthly subscription-based app gives users more than 40 million tracks in one location. Each of the songs is presented with lossless audio and where applicable, HD music videos. There are also editorials written by experts such as music journalists and artists who will help you expand you musical repertoire. The app features offline mode which can be used on up to 3 devices.
- Over 40 million tracks
- Lossless audio
- HD music videos
- Editorials by experts
- Offline mode for up to 3 devices
This app will bring you more than 40,000 radio stations from around the world into the palm of your hands and into your ear as you wish. It will give you the ability to listen to your favorite music and discover new tracks with ease. There is a radio tuner in this app which prevents drops from taking place, and lets you save your favorite stations that you stumble across so you can get back to them easily. Only a single in-app purchase of $3.99 gives users access to a sleep timer as well as removes all ads.
- Listen to your favorite music and discover new tracks
- More than 40,000 radio stations from around the world
- Radio tuner which prevents drops
- Save favorite stations for easy retrieval
- Sleep timer and ad-free assets in premium purchase
If you're looking for a place to find free music that you can stream right to your device, then look no further than the Pandora app. The experience is whatever you want to make here as you can search by composer, artist, genre, or song. Unlike when you're listening to the traditional radio, you won't be stuck having to listen to songs you don't enjoy. Another big draw with this app is the fact you can create your own personalized stations, up to 100 of them to be exact. And that is all included for free when you create an account with Pandora.
- Create up to 100 personalized radio stations of your own
- The app is free to use
- There are no ads
- Enjoy current and old music
Slacker Radio is a powerful streaming radio app with many awesome features and functions. Get free access to music that you enjoy, several hundred interactive stations, exclusive weekly content, create and share your own stations, available on different platforms, unique programming, on-demand access to millions of songs, offline playback of content and more. Some features require an in-app purchase of a subscription. We guarantee that once you use this app, you will love it and thank us for it.
- Enjoy the music that you love
- Hundreds of stations, Create your own stations
- Exclusive content, Unique programming
- On demand access, Offline playback
- Some features require in-app purchase of a subscription
The developers of this app went out of their way to prove that it’s not just another radio app. You have the power to customize the interface just the way you like it. You can also listen to local stations, search for stations across the globe, or import radio stations from their websites. When you find one that you like, just save it to your favorite list or share it with others. The app also has a speedometer for those of you using it while on the go. And, for those of you wanting to wake up to your favorite station, this app has a wonderful alarm clock feature.
- A radio app that allows you full customization
- Search for local stations or across the globe
- Import stations via their websites
- Speedometer, Alarm Clock, Snooze functions
- Save and share your favorite stations
One of the most frustrating things about listening to the radio in its traditional form is that the commercials are totally out of control. Sometimes it feels like a commercial follows each and every song. Well you can break free of this problem by downloading the Dash Radio app that offers streaming live music that is completely commercial free. The app offers more than 60 stations, which are located around the world so you get a real mix of music. As you come across stations you enjoy, be sure to mark them as a favorite so you can find them again easily. Let's also point out the sound quality is excellent.
- There are more than 60 stations that stream live from around the world
- The entire experience is commercial free
- Set your favorite stations
- Use Bluetooth to stream in your car
If you can't get enough of music from around the world, sports coverage, and top world news then you've got to check out the myTuner Radio app. Here you can choose from more than 30,000 radio stations, which is exactly why this app has more than 10 million people who have downloaded it. Go ahead and personalize the experience by creating a list of favorite stations, access more than one million free podcasts, conduct searches, and share what you're listening to via social media. This app supports the Apple Watch, Air-Play, and background play making it all the more attractive.
- There are more than 30,000 radio stations from around the world
- The app supports Air-Play, the Apple Watch, and background play
- Put together your own list of favorite stations
- Over 10 million people have downloaded this app
- Large selection of podcasts