# Big 98.1 vs FTC Sound Stream

The clearest difference is rating: FTC Sound Stream at 5.0 against Big 98.1's 3.8. Big 98.1's advantage is update cadence (every 6 months vs every 40 months) and ratings volume (6 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

FTC Sound Stream holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 2 respectively.

Big 98.1 ships an update every 6 months, FTC Sound Stream every 40 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Big 98.1 | FTC Sound Stream |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-981/id1196916766/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ftc-sound-stream/id1223571285/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 months** | Every 40 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 56 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JVC Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/444084204) | [Five Towns College](https://appshunter.io/developer/1223571284) |

## What reviewers say

### Big 98.1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-981/id1196916766)

Stream classic hits from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, featuring iconic artists like Elton John, The Beatles, and Madonna. Enjoy the biggest songs of your life with this radio app.

**Highlights:** Classic hits radio, 60s music, 70s music, 80s music, Iconic artists, Live streaming

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### FTC Sound Stream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ftc-sound-stream/id1223571285)

This app serves as the radio home for Five Towns College, featuring a diverse range of music and specialty shows. Listen to talk programs, news, and local events that highlight the talent at FTC.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, Variety of music genres, Specialty talk shows, News updates, Local event coverage, Showcasing student talent

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Big 98.1 free?

Big 98.1 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is FTC Sound Stream free?

FTC Sound Stream is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Big 98.1 or FTC Sound Stream?

FTC Sound Stream is rated higher. Big 98.1 averages 3.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while FTC Sound Stream averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Big 98.1 or FTC Sound Stream have ads?

Both Big 98.1 and FTC Sound Stream show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Big 98.1 or FTC Sound Stream?

Big 98.1 ships an update every 6 months, and FTC Sound Stream every 40 months. Most recently, Big 98.1 was updated on October 24, 2026 and FTC Sound Stream on October 29, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*