# AFR vs Z98.5

The clearest difference is rating: AFR at 4.6 against Z98.5's 2.3. AFR also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 20 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.

AFR holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AFR has 372 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of AFR's written reviews are positive against 50% of Z98.5's.

AFR ships an update every 3 months, Z98.5 every 20 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AFR | Z98.5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (372 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/afr/id429511476/reviews)** | [2.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/z985/id571385754/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **372** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **63.2% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 20 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 25 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [American Family Association](https://appshunter.io/developer/429511479) | [San-Dow Broadcasting, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456005417) |

## What reviewers say

### AFR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/afr/id429511476)

Listen to Christian conservative talk radio and music, or enjoy podcasts on demand. Download episodes for offline listening and integrate with your car's CarPlay system. Stay informed with push notifications about recently played songs and important broadcasts.

**Highlights:** Listen to AFR Talk and AFR Music, Listen to podcasts, Download podcasts, Background audio playback, CarPlay integration, View recently played songs, Push notifications

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✝️ Strong Christian and biblical content
- 📻 Quality spiritual teaching and preaching
- 📰 Trustworthy news from Christian perspective
- 🎧 Diverse programming and show variety
- 💰 Free service with optional donations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- 📡 Persistent connectivity and buffering issues
- 🔇 Audio cuts out unexpectedly
- ⏸️ Playback stops when screen locks
- 📋 Schedule information not always accurate

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately upon launch
- Audio plays but screen shows different content
- Incompatibility with iOS 13, 14, 15 updates
- App won't open after recent updates
- Playback stops after 5-10 seconds

**Requested features**

- Update and display current show/host information
- Add rewind and fast-forward controls
- Implement clock radio/alarm functionality
- Allow app to continue playing with screen locked
- Set default station preference


### Z98.5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/z985/id571385754)

Listen to North Mississippi's Classic Rock station live, anywhere. Stream your favorite classic rock hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Enjoy the music that defined a generation.

**Highlights:** Live radio streaming, Classic rock music, Nationwide listening, Mobile app access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AFR free?

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

### Is Z98.5 free?

Z98.5 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AFR or Z98.5?

AFR is rated higher. AFR averages 4.6 out of 5 from 372 ratings, while Z98.5 averages 2.3 from 4 ratings.

### Do AFR or Z98.5 have ads?

Z98.5 shows ads; AFR does not.

### Which is updated more often, AFR or Z98.5?

AFR ships an update every 3 months, and Z98.5 every 20 months. Most recently, AFR was updated on October 7, 2026 and Z98.5 on September 23, 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.*