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Music · head to head

iHeartRadio vs Stitcher

iHeartRadio logo

iHeartRadio

Music

All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Stitcher

Entertainment

Premium podcast subscription service

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; Stitcher service discontinued August 29, 2023
  • They diverge on capability: iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Stitcher covers Podcast streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iHeartRadio and Stitcher actually diverge.

Attributes where iHeartRadio and Stitcher differ
AttributeiHeartRadioStitcher
CategoryMusicEntertainment
Founded20082007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers), 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

Only in Stitcher

  • Podcast streaming
  • Original content
  • Ad-free
  • Offline listening
  • Recommendations
  • Content controls

Both cover

  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Account security
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Smart-speakers support

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 Stitcher
  • Listening to podcasts and live sports commentarynot Stitcher
  • Building music playlists on a paid tiernot Stitcher

Stitcher

  • Podcast listeningnot iHeartRadio
  • Audio entertainmentnot 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

Stitcher

  • Service discontinued August 29, 2023
  • No longer available for download or use

Pricing, plan by plan

iHeartRadio

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

Stitcher

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Free podcasts
    • Ad-supported
  • Stitcher Premium$4.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Exclusives

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 Stitcher if

  • You need podcast streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want original content.
Stitcher review

Questions people ask

Is iHeartRadio or Stitcher better?
Neither clearly leads. iHeartRadio starts at Free and Stitcher at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iHeartRadio or Stitcher?
iHeartRadio starts at Free and Stitcher at Free.
Does iHeartRadio or Stitcher run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Stitcher is typically brought in for.
What can iHeartRadio do that Stitcher cannot?
iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Custom stations, Podcasts, Events. Stitcher covers Podcast streaming, Original content, Ad-free, Offline listening. Both handle Smart speakers, Car systems, Account security, Web support.

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
Stitcher: Is Stitcher still available?

No. Stitcher shut down on August 29, 2023. SiriusXM, which acquired Stitcher in 2020, discontinued the app to consolidate podcasts into its flagship SiriusXM subscription. Users can listen to podcasts via the SiriusXM app instead.

Source
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Related pages

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