# Thunder 98.1 vs Z89.3 KZAO

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thunder 98.1 | Z89.3 KZAO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunder-981/id1226084697/reviews) | **[4.9 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/z893-kzao/id1553527365/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **43** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 78 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Townsquare Media, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/433762450) | [Apache Leap Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524666265) |

## What reviewers say

### Thunder 98.1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunder-981/id1226084697)

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.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, Local news and weather updates, Traffic information, Interactive host communication, Breaking news alerts, Article saving for offline reading, Content sharing

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Z89.3 KZAO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/z893-kzao/id1553527365)

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.

**Highlights:** Record and send voice shoutouts, Show playing notifications, Follow social media feeds, Submit topic suggestions, Submit birthday wishes

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thunder 98.1 free?

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

### Is Z89.3 KZAO free?

Z89.3 KZAO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Thunder 98.1 or Z89.3 KZAO?

Z89.3 KZAO is rated higher. Thunder 98.1 averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Z89.3 KZAO averages 4.9 from 43 ratings.

### Do Thunder 98.1 or Z89.3 KZAO have ads?

Both Thunder 98.1 and Z89.3 KZAO show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Thunder 98.1 or Z89.3 KZAO?

Thunder 98.1 ships an update every 3 months, and Z89.3 KZAO every 7 months. Most recently, Thunder 98.1 was updated on October 24, 2026 and Z89.3 KZAO on November 3, 2026.

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