TuneIn alternative

A TuneIn alternative
without the ads.

TuneIn is the best-known radio app, but its free version plays ads before live streams and its App Store listing shows data used to track you. AirWave takes a different route: thousands of stations, no ads added by the app, no account, no tracking, and a native app on every Apple device.

Download on the App Store

AirWave and TuneIn side by side

	AirWave	TuneIn
Ads added by the app	None	Pre-roll ads before live streams
“Data Used to Track You” on the App Store	None	Location, identifiers, usage data
Paid tier	Pro: €0.99/month or €4.99/year, first month free	Premium: $9.99/month or $79.99/year, with “less ads” across stations
Mac	Native app in the menu bar	In the browser at tunein.com
iPhone, iPad and CarPlay	Yes	Yes
Apple Watch	Yes (Pro)	Yes
Rewind live radio	Up to 30 minutes, free	Not listed on TuneIn’s Premium page

Comparison based on TuneIn’s website, help center and US App Store listing, checked on November 13, 2026. Prices may differ per country. TuneIn is a trademark of its owner; AirWave is not affiliated with TuneIn.

What you get with AirWave

No ads from us

AirWave never puts ads before a stream, between songs or in the app. Some stations air their own commercials in their stream, just like on FM; that part is up to the station.

No account, no tracking

Open the app and press play. No sign-up, no analytics, and we never see what you listen to.

Rewind live radio

Missed something? Pause or rewind up to 30 minutes, also in the free version.

Every Apple device

iPhone, iPad, a menu bar app on Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and CarPlay, in one download.

See every song

Recently Heard lists what played, with links to Apple Music and Spotify.

Sounds the way you like

10-band equalizer with 14 presets, Even Volume and a sleep timer.

When TuneIn is the better choice

We’d rather be straight with you. TuneIn Premium includes live sports, commercial-free news networks, audiobooks and podcasts, and TuneIn runs on Android, Alexa and many other platforms. If those matter most, TuneIn is a good fit. If you want live radio without the app adding ads or tracking you on your Apple devices, try AirWave.

Questions

Is AirWave really free?

Yes. Listening is free for as long as you like, with thousands of stations, rewinding, the sleep timer, CarPlay and up to 10 favorites, without ads from the app. AirWave Pro adds extras such as unlimited favorites, recording, iCloud sync, Sonos and the Apple Watch and Apple TV apps, for €0.99 a month or €4.99 a year.

Will I find my stations?

Most likely. AirWave uses the community-run Radio Browser directory with stations from every country, so coverage varies per country. With AirWave Pro you can also add any station yourself with its stream URL.

Does AirWave show ads?

AirWave itself never adds ads, in the free version or in Pro. A station can include its own commercials or a short message at the start of its stream, as it would on FM or on the station’s own website. That comes from the station, not from AirWave, so you’ll hear the same thing anywhere you play that stream.

Does AirWave work on Android or Windows?

No. AirWave is made only for Apple devices, so it can feel native on each of them.

Ready to listen?

Free to download and free to listen, with no ads from the app and no account.

Download on the App Store

AirWave Pro: first month free, cancel anytime.