Thunder 98.1 vs Z89.3 KZAO
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Thunder 98.1
Stay informed with local news, weather, and traffic updates. Listen live to radio shows, interact with hosts, and receive instant alerts for breaking news and contests. Save articles for later and share content easily.
- Live radio streaming
- Local news and weather updates
- Traffic information
- Interactive host communication
- Breaking news alerts
- Article saving for offline reading
- Content sharing
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Get the latest news and information, weather coverage and traffic updates in the Sierra Vista area with the Thunder 98.1 app! Listen to the station live and interact with the hosts – you can direct message and call the show directly from the app. Receive alerts about breaking news, contests, and more before anyone else. Save articles and viral stories for reading later, and share on Facebook and Twitter. Key Features: • Listen to our shows, plus receive weather and traffic updates live from Thunder 98.1 Radio • Read the latest news, watch videos, view photo galleries & listen to audio content • Submit Photos/Videos directly from the app • Participate in contests and giveaways, plus get exclusive access to station scavenger hunts • Apple CarPlay lets you to stay focused on the road while listening • Get the latest weather for your area plus a 5-day forecast • Do not disturb modes for alerts (weekend and after hours) • Save articles for reading later (supports offline viewing) • Instant Alerts for breaking news, weather, contests, shows and more • Featured full multi-tasking with background audio and controls • Share the latest news on Facebook & Twitter • Supports AirPlay for wireless streaming to your compatible devices • 3D Touch for iOS Devices This is the latest version of the Thunder 98.1 app, and many more features are already planned. Please share your feedback from within the Thunder 98.1 app by clicking the “Send App Feedback” link in the menu.
Z89.3 KZAO
Stream your favorite rock music and interact with the station. Send voice messages, get show notifications, and follow social feeds directly within the app. Discover new music and engage with the station's community.
- Record and send voice shoutouts
- Show playing notifications
- Follow social media feeds
- Submit topic suggestions
- Submit birthday wishes
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Hit Music - Ajo
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Z89.3 KZAO at 4.9 against Thunder 98.1's 3.0. Z89.3 KZAO also leads on ratings volume (43 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Thunder 98.1's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 7 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Z89.3 KZAO holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Z89.3 KZAO has 43 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Thunder 98.1 ships an update every 3 months, Z89.3 KZAO every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Thunder 98.1 | Z89.3 KZAO |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (2 ratings) | 4.9 (43 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 43 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 78 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Townsquare Media, LLC | Apache Leap Media |
Customer experience
Thunder 98.1
Z89.3 KZAO
In-app purchases
Thunder 98.1
No in-app purchases
Z89.3 KZAO
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Thunder 98.1 free?
Is Z89.3 KZAO free?
Which has better reviews, Thunder 98.1 or Z89.3 KZAO?
Do Thunder 98.1 or Z89.3 KZAO have ads?
Which is updated more often, Thunder 98.1 or Z89.3 KZAO?
Other comparisons
