Best Smooth Jazz vs Play Ode
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Best Smooth Jazz
Listen to instrumental smooth jazz from five decades, featuring a wide range of renowned artists. This app offers a fusion of soulful instrumentals, perfect for discerning adults seeking a nu groove experience.
- All instrumental smooth jazz
- Music from 5 decades
- Features renowned artists
- Soulful instrumental fusion
- Nu groove for adults
- Latest smooth jazz releases
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Join host Rod Lucas on London's Best Smooth Jazz Radio. All instrumental Smooth Jazz from 5 decades. BSJ’s music features artists ranging from George Benson, Cal Tjader, Oscar Peterson, Sergio Mendes, Grover Washington Jr, Kenny G, Bob James, Candy Dulfer, Cindy Bradley, Marc Antoine and Peter White to name just a few. The music on 'Best Smooth Jazz' is mainly instrumentals - NOT traditional Jazz, but a fusion of soulful instrumentals - covering 5 decades of Smooth Soft Cool Jazz. This is the nu groove that discerning adults enjoy with BSJ. Also listen out for artists like Shakatak, Brian Culbertson, Norman Brown, Stan Getz and many others. Rod features the very latest Smooth Jazz artists and new albums that make the grade.
Play Ode
Stream music and discover audio content celebrating Black culture. Access radio stations, podcasts, and a diverse music library including R&B, Hip Hop, and Gospel. Connect with a community and find the perfect soundtrack for your life.
- Music streaming
- Radio stations
- Popular podcasts
- Black Information Network (BIN)
- Diverse music genres (R&B, Hip Hop, Gospel, Jazz)
- Community connection
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Play Ode is the premiere music streaming app that celebrates and amplifies Black culture featuring radio stations, the Black Information Network (BIN), popular podcasts, and the music of some of the greatest artists ever! Connect with community, and discover new exciting audio content and music that serves as the soundtrack for your life. R&B, Hip Hop, Gospel, Smooth Jazz, Old School or Talk… it’s all easily accessed on the Play Ode app.
Screenshots
Verdict
Best Smooth Jazz and Play Ode both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 97% of Best Smooth Jazz's written reviews are positive against 60% of Play Ode's. Best Smooth Jazz also leads on ratings volume (58 vs 18). Play Ode's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months). On price, rating, 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.
Best Smooth Jazz holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 58 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 97% of Best Smooth Jazz's written reviews are positive against 60% of Play Ode's.
Best Smooth Jazz ships an update every 12 months, Play Ode every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Best Smooth Jazz | Play Ode |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (58 ratings) — better | 4.6 (18 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 96.8% of reviews — better | 60.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 58 — better | 18 |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rod Lucas | ODE AUDIO, LLC |
Customer experience
Best Smooth Jazz
Play Ode
In-app purchases
Best Smooth Jazz
No in-app purchases
Play Ode
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Best Smooth Jazz free?
Is Play Ode free?
Which has better reviews, Best Smooth Jazz or Play Ode?
Do Best Smooth Jazz or Play Ode have ads?
Which is updated more often, Best Smooth Jazz or Play Ode?
Other comparisons
