# SWListener vs iFTx

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.

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 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SWListener | iFTx |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [1.4 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swlistener-shortwave-guide/id1018238379/reviews) | **[4.2 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iftx/id6446093115/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 43 | **70** |
| Positive reviews | 6.3% of reviews | **71.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#114** |
| Size | 50 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [md](https://appshunter.io/developer/502360039) | [Christoph Nadig](https://appshunter.io/developer/1275170431) |

## What reviewers say

### SWListener

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swlistener-shortwave-guide/id1018238379)

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.

**Highlights:** Find broadcast schedules, View current transmissions, Get transmission details, Search by frequency, Browse station schedules, Sort stations by name

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SWListener premium | $2.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful for looking up stations
- 👍 Handy for identifying stations
- 👍 App works great (after fixes)
- 👍 Accurate station identification
- 👍 Automatically shows stations on air

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ App does nothing
- ❌ Blank screens
- ❌ Total fraud/scam
- ❌ Zero functionality
- ❌ Crashes constantly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes
- Blank screens
- Zero functionality
- No sound
- No reception

**Requested features**

- 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


### iFTx

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iftx/id6446093115)

**Currently charting:** #114 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** FT8 and FT4 digital modes, Portable digital communication, Global operator connections, User-friendly interface, Integrated QSO logging

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SWListener free?

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

### Is iFTx free?

iFTx costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SWListener or iFTx?

iFTx is rated higher. SWListener averages 1.4 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while iFTx averages 4.2 from 70 ratings.

### Do SWListener or iFTx have ads?

Neither SWListener nor iFTx shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SWListener or iFTx?

SWListener ships an update every 5 weeks, and iFTx every 6 months. Most recently, SWListener was updated on October 24, 2026 and iFTx on October 30, 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.*