Wave 104.1 vs 98.5 The River
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Wave 104.1
Stream your favorite classic rock station live, anytime, anywhere. This official free app provides instant access to unique content and features from the station.
- Live radio streaming
- Classic rock music
- On-the-go listening
- Instant content access
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Never be without your favorite radio station. Wave 104.1 is proud to present our OFFICIAL FREE radio app. Get listening to Wave 104.1! We play the best Classic Rock all day long! Listen to us at work, home, or on the road. Install our app and get instant access to our unique content, features, and more!
98.5 The River
Listen to the Valley's Classic Rock Station live. Enjoy iconic hits from legendary artists spanning decades of rock music. Stay connected with your favorite rock anthems anytime, anywhere.
- Live radio streaming
- Classic rock music
- Artist library (Stones, Beatles, Nirvana, Pearl Jam)
- Mobile listening
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98.5 The River is the Valley’s Classic Rock Station. Featuring the best Classic Rock from the Stones and Beatles to Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: 98.5 The River at 4.7 against Wave 104.1's 4.0. 98.5 The River also leads on ratings volume (25 vs 2) and review sentiment (100% vs 92%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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.
98.5 The River holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 98.5 The River has 25 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Wave 104.1's written reviews are positive against 100% of 98.5 The River's.
Wave 104.1 ships an update every 5 months, 98.5 The River every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Wave 104.1 | 98.5 The River |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (2 ratings) | 4.7 (25 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 91.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 25 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 61 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | DICK BROADCASTING CO INC OF NORTH CAROLINA | Midwest Communications |
Customer experience
Wave 104.1
98.5 The River
In-app purchases
Wave 104.1
No in-app purchases
98.5 The River
No in-app purchases
