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Music & Audio Apps · head to head

iHeartRadio vs YouTube TV

iHeartRadio logo

iHeartRadio

Music & Audio Apps

All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Y

YouTube TV

Entertainment

Cable reimagined: live TV streaming with unlimited cloud DVR storage

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only iHeartRadio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: iHeartRadio ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription; YouTube TV base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iHeartRadio and YouTube TV actually diverge.

Attributes where iHeartRadio and YouTube TV differ
AttributeiHeartRadioYouTube TV
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakersWeb
CategoryMusic & Audio AppsEntertainment
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: 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 YouTube TV

Nothing recorded that iHeartRadio does not also cover.

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

YouTube TV

No use cases recorded yet. See the YouTube TV review.

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

YouTube TV

  • Base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)
  • Base Plan is priced at $82.99 per month as of August 2026 per YouTube TV's own pricing page, with a discounted $67.99 rate only for the first 3 months

Pricing, plan by plan

iHeartRadio

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

YouTube TV

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the YouTube TV review.

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 YouTube TV if

Nothing in the data separates YouTube TV from iHeartRadio on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

YouTube TV review

Questions people ask

Is iHeartRadio or YouTube TV better?
Neither clearly leads. iHeartRadio starts at Free and YouTube TV at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iHeartRadio or YouTube TV?
iHeartRadio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for iHeartRadio and On request for YouTube TV.
Does iHeartRadio or YouTube TV run on more platforms?
iHeartRadio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. YouTube TV runs on Web.
Can I use iHeartRadio for free?
Yes. iHeartRadio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. YouTube TV starts at On request.
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 YouTube TV is typically brought in for.
What can iHeartRadio do that YouTube TV cannot?
iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Custom stations, Podcasts, Events.
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Related pages

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