iHeart

iHeart for Android is a complete audio streaming platform that provides your device with a digital radio tuner and allows you to create playlists and listen to podcasts.

What You Get When You Open the App

The changed interface is similar to a car radio dial. However, it helps you use the dial very efficiently. You can listen to 1000s of live radio stations organized by genre and city via a simple dial that works like tuning. The innovative scan button, which is a first in the country, is a highlight. It allows you to scan through any number of stations across the country similar to how you would use the FM button while on the move. Using custom presets lets you save up to 15 of your favorites including radio stations, playlists as well as podcasts for instant access both in-app and Android Auto integration.

Now you can clearly sing along with your favourite songs thanks to real-time karaoke style lyrics that appear on top of live radio broadcasts and playlists. This is also useful when you want to catch words you have always misheard. The “What’s Trending” rankers are bringing you popular content from any category for your convenience. You don’t have to scroll down endlessly anymore. The discovery of genre-based radio together with trending podcasts create a browsing experience that is the best of both worlds.

The Freemium Trade-Off

According to iHeart, there is a ‘freemium audio-streaming’ model whereby the actual experience is free but has caveats. If you choose to use the free version, it has ads. That means they insert advertisements while you’re listening to songs. You have to pay to access the offline feature. People who don’t pay need the internet for every feature of the Spotify app. On the other hand, paying members can have ad-free listening, offline downloads, and arguably better quality audio through in-app purchases.

The Android Auto integration feature is quite impressive for in-car listening, you can use those 15 presets right from your dashboard. But the catch? Many users have commented that the music and podcast discovery tools are functional but not as sophisticated as the algorithms offered by Spotify and Pandora.

What Falls Short

Community reports highlight a number of worth-noting limitations. The free version relies on streaming a lot so you can’t use it on the tube or in the dead zones. iHeart’s exclusive podcast content and trending selections help differentiate it as a service. It tries to curate playlists for its digital stations, but those tools can’t compete with more dedicated music streaming services that have been built to individual taste profiles.

When you listen for a long time, the ad frequency on the free version does feel overwhelming. The whole live radio streaming experience works well —especially for sports, news and talk formats— but for music lovers wanting precise control over what they hear, artist radio stations may feel too broad. The karaoke lyrics feature has entertainment value. But, it cannot be regarded as a substitute for sophisticated recommendation engines that learn our preferences over a period of time.

For an audience that likes the radio style of content, controls that suit the car, and casual but convenient podcast browsing, iHeart offers plenty of value and doesn’t require you to pay for it. The preset system and scan function are particularly suited for Android Auto users that wish to have quick access. However, you’ll run into issues if listening offline matters or you want Spotify-like music discovery. It’s a pretty good “freemium audio streaming” option that brings the radio experience to the digital space quite well but you have to give up depth of personalization for breadth of live content.