# Z98.5 vs Pocket Cowbell

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Z98.5 | Pocket Cowbell |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/z985/id571385754/reviews) | **[4.4 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-cowbell/id6444595768/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **32** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **63.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 12 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [San-Dow Broadcasting, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456005417) | [Jesse Hollingsworth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1655567051) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Pocket Cowbell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-cowbell/id6444595768)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Cowbell PRO | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Z98.5 free?

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

### Is Pocket Cowbell free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Z98.5 or Pocket Cowbell?

Pocket Cowbell is rated higher. Z98.5 averages 3.2 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Pocket Cowbell averages 4.4 from 32 ratings.

### Do Z98.5 or Pocket Cowbell have ads?

Both Z98.5 and Pocket Cowbell show ads.

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

Z98.5 ships an update every 20 months, and Pocket Cowbell every 3 weeks. Most recently, Z98.5 was updated on November 1, 2026 and Pocket Cowbell on November 7, 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.*