# 98.1 The River vs EchoTether

The clearest difference is rating: EchoTether at 5.0 against 98.1 The River's 2.3. EchoTether also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 4 months). 98.1 The River's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EchoTether sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. 98.1 The River asks for nothing beyond the download.

EchoTether holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

98.1 The River ships an update every 4 months, EchoTether every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 98.1 The River | EchoTether |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/981-the-river/id361271709/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echotether/id6749283622/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 17 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Saga Communications](https://appshunter.io/developer/333180331) | [Bobby Felton Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/1770784995) |

## What reviewers say

### 98.1 The River

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/981-the-river/id361271709)

Listen to your favorite radio station live and stay connected with their social media. Access more content and updates directly from your mobile device.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, Social media integration, Station updates, Mobile access

**In-app purchases:** none


### EchoTether

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echotether/id6749283622)

Record and leave voice messages at real-world locations for others to discover when they are nearby. Share memories, tips, or private notes that become part of the physical map.

**Highlights:** Record and tag audio to your location, Leave audio messages for others to discover, Unlock audio whispers when nearby, Explore community-created audio pins, Set unlock times for recordings, Optional passcode for private messages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pro upgrade | $1.99 | per month |
| Pro-access | $4.99 | per month |
| EchoTether Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 98.1 The River free?

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

### Is EchoTether free?

EchoTether is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, 98.1 The River or EchoTether?

EchoTether is rated higher. 98.1 The River averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while EchoTether averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do 98.1 The River or EchoTether have ads?

Neither 98.1 The River nor EchoTether shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 98.1 The River or EchoTether?

98.1 The River ships an update every 4 months, and EchoTether every 6 days. Most recently, 98.1 The River was updated on September 30, 2026 and EchoTether on October 5, 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.*