SWListener vs iFTx
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SWListener
Discover shortwave radio broadcasts with this app. View current transmissions, detailed information like language and target, and explore station schedules. Find broadcasts by frequency or station name.
- Find broadcast schedules
- View current transmissions
- Get transmission details
- Search by frequency
- Browse station schedules
- Sort stations by name
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Tune into the world. No algorithms. No streaming. Just radio. SWListener is the ultimate companion for shortwave enthusiasts. Discover thousands of broadcast schedules from stations around the world - always up to date and at your fingertips. What you can do: - Scan live frequencies and see what's currently on air - Type any frequency directly into the VFO display for instant tuning - Browse the complete schedule of every world station - Check language, transmitter site, target region and antenna data - Navigate by frequency, band or station name - See which frequencies have recent DX spots highlighted on the tuning scale - Log reception reports and share them with the SWL community Whether you're a seasoned DXer or just discovering shortwave - SWListener gives you the tools to explore the spectrum like never before. NOTE: SWListener is a broadcast schedule database - not a radio player. A real shortwave receiver is required to listen. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
iFTx
This app enables seamless communication using FT8 and FT4 digital modes directly from your iOS device. Enjoy portable digital connections, effortless operation with a user-friendly interface, and reliable performance for global contact.
- FT8 and FT4 digital modes
- Portable digital communication
- Global operator connections
- User-friendly interface
- Integrated QSO logging
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Introducing iFTx: The Essential iOS App for FT8 and FT4 Digital Modes! - Seamlessly Engage: iFTx brings FT8 and FT4 digital modes to your iOS device, enabling convenient and portable digital communication. - Anytime, Anywhere: Enjoy the flexibility to connect with operators globally from the comfort of your iOS device. - Effortless Operation: Navigate the user-friendly interface for quick setup and real-time messaging. - Reliable Performance: Experience clear signals and adapt to changing propagation conditions with ease. - Log Your Success: Keep track of your contacts effortlessly with integrated QSO logging.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: iFTx at 72% against SWListener's 6%. iFTx also leads on rating (4.2 vs 1.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). SWListener's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 6 months). On ratings volume, ads, monetization model and device support 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
SWListener is free to download; iFTx costs $1.99 up front. SWListener sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per year. iFTx asks for nothing beyond the download.
iFTx holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 43 and 70 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 6% of SWListener's written reviews are positive against 72% of iFTx's.
SWListener ships an update every 5 weeks, iFTx every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SWListener | iFTx |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 1.4 (43 ratings) | 4.2 (70 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 6.3% of reviews | 71.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 43 | 70 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #124 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | md | Christoph Nadig |
Customer experience
SWListener
iFTx
Bugs and requests
SWListener
Reported bugs
16 issues- App crashes
- Blank screens
- Zero functionality
- No sound
- No reception
Show 11 moreShow fewer
- App opens but nothing loads
- App crashes constantly
- App freezes on 'retrieving data'
- App crashes and closes after selecting a station
- App shuts down immediately when tapped on a frequency
- App hangs on 'running'
- App freezes
- App opens, screen pops up and says retrieving data, then freezes
- App will not open
- Unzumutbare Ladezeiten
- Abstürze
Requested features
6 requests- Add selection by language
- Add selection by target area
- Fetch free SW schedule updates from EIBI and HFCC
- Customer support to show screenshots
- Dark mode option
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Advanced analytics dashboard
iFTx
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SWListener
- SWListener premium7 Days trial$2.991 Year
iFTx
No in-app purchases









