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Music · head to head

iHeartRadio vs Infuse

iHeartRadio logo

iHeartRadio

Music

All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Infuse logo

Infuse

Entertainment

Paid media player for Apple TV, iPhone, iPad and Mac with strong network share and cloud library streaming

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: iHeartRadio ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription; Infuse it costs money in every form, subscription or lifetime, where IINA performs equivalent local Mac playback for free.
  • They diverge on capability: iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Infuse covers Apple TV app.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iHeartRadio and Infuse actually diverge.

Attributes where iHeartRadio and Infuse differ
AttributeiHeartRadioInfuse
Pricing modelfreemiumPer user per month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakersMac, iOS, tvOS
CategoryMusicEntertainment
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in iHeartRadio

  • Live radio
  • Custom stations
  • Podcasts
  • Events
  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Account security
  • Web support

Only in Infuse

  • Apple TV app
  • Network share streaming
  • Cloud storage support
  • Automatic metadata and artwork
  • Subtitle and audio track handling
  • Cross-platform library

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

iHeartRadio

  • Streaming live AM and FM radio stations over the internetnot Infuse
  • Listening to podcasts and live sports commentarynot Infuse
  • Building music playlists on a paid tiernot Infuse

Infuse

  • Someone with a NAS full of ripped or downloaded video who wants it browsable on Apple TV like a streaming servicenot iHeartRadio
  • A household that wants one media library accessible from the living room television, phones and a Macnot iHeartRadio
  • A user who wants automatic artwork and metadata for a personal library rather than plain file namesnot iHeartRadio
  • Someone already invested in the Apple TV ecosystem who wants better playback than the built in Apple TV app supportsnot iHeartRadio

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

iHeartRadio

  • Ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription
  • Unlimited skips and unlimited playlist creation require a paid subscription
  • Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends
  • Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when a subscription is purchased
  • The iOS app requires iOS 15.0 or later

Infuse

  • It costs money in every form, subscription or lifetime, where IINA performs equivalent local Mac playback for free.
  • Full functionality depends on the Pro tier, so the free version alone is limited enough that most serious users end up paying.
  • It has no Android or Windows app, so it does not help a household with non-Apple television or phone hardware.
  • Streaming quality from a network share depends heavily on local network speed and NAS performance, which is outside the app control and can cause buffering.
  • Regional pricing and promotional lifetime pricing has varied over time, so the exact lifetime cost is worth checking on the App Store before buying.

Pricing, plan by plan

iHeartRadio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Live radio
    • Podcasts
    • Ads
  • Plus$5.99/month
    • Unlimited skips
    • Offline playlists

Infuse

Free
  • Infuse (free)Free
    • Basic local file playback
    • Limited compared to Pro
    • No network share or cloud streaming
  • Infuse Pro Monthly$1.99/month
    • Full network share and cloud streaming
    • Metadata and artwork fetching
    • All future updates included while subscribed
  • Infuse Pro Lifetime$149.99/one-time
    • One-time purchase, no recurring fee
    • All future major version updates included
    • Regional pricing varies by App Store

Which should you pick?

Choose iHeartRadio if

  • You need live radio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want custom stations.
iHeartRadio review

Choose Infuse if

  • You need apple tv app.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, iOS, tvOS.
  • You also want network share streaming.
Infuse review

Questions people ask

Is iHeartRadio or Infuse better?
Neither clearly leads. iHeartRadio starts at Free and Infuse at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iHeartRadio or Infuse?
iHeartRadio starts at Free and Infuse at Free.
Does iHeartRadio or Infuse run on more platforms?
iHeartRadio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. Infuse runs on Mac, iOS, tvOS.
Can I use iHeartRadio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is iHeartRadio best used for?
iHeartRadio is most often used for streaming live am and fm radio stations over the internet, listening to podcasts and live sports commentary, building music playlists on a paid tier. Of those, streaming live am and fm radio stations over the internet and listening to podcasts and live sports commentary are not what Infuse is typically brought in for.
What can iHeartRadio do that Infuse cannot?
iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Custom stations, Podcasts, Events. Infuse covers Apple TV app, Network share streaming, Cloud storage support, Automatic metadata and artwork.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iHeartRadio: How much does iHeartRadio cost?

iHeartRadio does not publish pricing on their website. The service offers free podcast streaming with optional premium content for certain shows. A reference to 'Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content' is mentioned, but no pricing is provided. Customers must visit linked premium content pages for pricing information.

Source
Infuse: Is Infuse free?

A limited free version exists, but network share and cloud streaming, the main reason people choose Infuse, requires Infuse Pro, sold as a subscription or lifetime purchase.

Infuse: Does Infuse work on Apple TV?

Yes, it has a dedicated Apple TV app with a television-optimised browsing interface, which IINA does not offer at all.

Infuse: Is there a one-time payment option?

Yes, a lifetime purchase is available alongside monthly and yearly subscriptions, currently around 149.99 US dollars depending on region.

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