Z98.5 vs Pocket Cowbell
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Z98.5
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.
- Live radio streaming
- Classic rock music
- Nationwide listening
- Mobile app access
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Z98.5 is North Mississippi\'s Classic Rock! Shaking your speakers across North MS at 97.5fm, and nationwide at Z985.net or via the Z98.5 app! Showing tribute to the Classic Rock legacies you grew up listening to on cassette! Keep calm and rock on!
Pocket Cowbell
This digital noisemaker lets you shake your device to create a cowbell sound. Compete globally on leaderboards, customize your cowbell's look and sound, and track your ringing stats. An optional PRO upgrade offers an ad-free experience and exclusive content.
- Shake to ring cowbell sound
- Global leaderboards for competition
- Variety of unique cowbell designs
- Custom cowbell creation tools
- Multiple ringing sound options
- Detailed ringing statistics tracking
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Ring, Compete, and Customize with Pocket Cowbell - Your Ultimate Digital Noisemaker! Shake your device to ring the bell, cheer on your favorite teams, and dive into a world of fun with Pocket Cowbell! This isn't just any noise app - it's a fully customizable, interactive experience that brings the classic cowbell into the digital age, ready for any event where you need to make some noise. Key Features: • Shake to Ring: Use your device's motion to create that iconic cowbell sound • Global Leaderboards: Compete worldwide and ring your way to the top! • Unique Cowbells: Choose from a variety of cowbell designs, each with its own look and sound • Custom Creation: Design your own cowbell with different shapes, colors, and tones • Sound Variety: Select from multiple ringing sounds or record your own for a truly personal touch • Detailed Stats: Track your ringing prowess with session, daily, and lifetime ring counts Upgrade to PRO for an enhanced experience: • Ad-Free Ringing: Enjoy uninterrupted cowbell action • Exclusive Cowbells and Sounds: Access a wider range of customization options • Auto-Ring Feature: Let your device do the ringing for you Whether you're a sports fan, attending a concert, or just looking for a fun way to make some noise, Pocket Cowbell is the perfect app for all occasions. Download now and start ringing your way to the top of the leaderboards!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Pocket Cowbell at 4.4 against Z98.5's 3.2. Pocket Cowbell also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 20 months) and review sentiment (64% vs 50%). Z98.5's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Pocket Cowbell sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Z98.5 asks for nothing beyond the download.
Pocket Cowbell holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocket Cowbell has 32 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Z98.5's written reviews are positive against 64% of Pocket Cowbell's.
Z98.5 ships an update every 20 months, Pocket Cowbell every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Z98.5 | Pocket Cowbell |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (6 ratings) | 4.4 (32 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 63.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 32 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 98 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | San-Dow Broadcasting, Inc. | Jesse Hollingsworth |
Customer experience
Z98.5
Pocket Cowbell
In-app purchases
Z98.5
No in-app purchases
Pocket Cowbell
- Pocket Cowbell PRO$1.99
