# Play Ode vs JAM98

The clearest difference is review sentiment: JAM98 at 100% against Play Ode's 50%. JAM98 also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (132 vs 17). Play Ode's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

JAM98 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: JAM98 has 132 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Play Ode's written reviews are positive against 100% of JAM98's.

Play Ode ships an update every 3 weeks, JAM98 every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Play Ode | JAM98 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-ode/id1511006042/reviews) | **[4.9 (132 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jam98/id1630230317/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 17 | **132** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 36 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [ODE AUDIO, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1511006041) | [Livingherstory LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1630230319) |

## What reviewers say

### Play Ode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-ode/id1511006042)

Stream music and discover audio content celebrating Black culture. Access radio stations, podcasts, and a diverse music library including R&B, Hip Hop, and Gospel. Connect with a community and find the perfect soundtrack for your life.

**Highlights:** Music streaming, Radio stations, Popular podcasts, Black Information Network (BIN), Diverse music genres (R&B, Hip Hop, Gospel, Jazz), Community connection

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### JAM98

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jam98/id1630230317)

Stream a diverse collection of music genres from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and today. Enjoy R&B, Soul, House, Disco, Classic Hip Hop, Jazz, Inspirational, and Steppers all in one convenient application.

**Highlights:** Music from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and today, R&B, Soul, House, Disco, Classic Hip Hop, Jazz, Inspirational and Steppers music, All genres in one app

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Play Ode free?

Play Ode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is JAM98 free?

JAM98 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Play Ode or JAM98?

JAM98 is rated higher. Play Ode averages 4.6 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while JAM98 averages 4.9 from 132 ratings.

### Do Play Ode or JAM98 have ads?

JAM98 shows ads; Play Ode does not.

### Which is updated more often, Play Ode or JAM98?

Play Ode ships an update every 3 weeks, and JAM98 every 5 months. Most recently, Play Ode was updated on October 4, 2026 and JAM98 on October 13, 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.*