Comparison

CW Trainer vs CW Runner QT

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CW Trainer

Learn Morse code using the effective Koch method. This app introduces letters at full speed, adding new ones as proficiency increases, to build and improve your Morse code skills.

Highlights
  • Morse code learning
  • Koch method implementation
  • Proficiency-based learning
  • Skill improvement
Features
Read full description

CW Trainer — Learn & Practice Morse Code Become a real CW operator. CW Trainer takes you from your first letters all the way to real QSOs and contests, with a radio simulator that sounds and responds like the real thing. PROGRESSIVE KOCH METHOD Learn Morse code one letter at a time with the proven Koch method. A 40-lesson curriculum, per-character accuracy stats, and automatic progression when you're ready. QSO WITH AI OPERATOR Have realistic radio conversations with an intelligent operator. You call, copy, exchange RST, name, QTH — and if you miss something, the operator repeats it, just like on the air. Every QSO is with a different station from around the world, and you get a score and coaching at the end. CONTEST MODE Train for CQ WW and WPX contests in Search & Pounce or Running. Pile-ups, rapid exchanges, ever-changing callsigns, and realistic error handling. MAKE IT YOURS Speeds from 5 to 60 WPM, a level system from Bronze to Legend, daily reminders, and leaderboards to challenge other operators. TRY IT FREE, THEN DECIDE You can use the app with no sign-up and no payment: • the first 9 lessons of the Koch course • 5 Callsign Trainer sessions and 5 Pile-up sessions • 7 QSOs with the AI operator, Contest included • stats, leaderboard, ranks and achievements, always included When you want to go further there are two separate options: • Full unlock — one-time purchase, yours forever: all 40 Koch lessons, unlimited Callsign and Pile-up • DX Pass — monthly or annual subscription, with a 7-day free trial on the annual plan: unlimited AI QSOs and Contest AI, with coaching after every QSO You can cancel the subscription at any time in your Apple settings. Purchases are tied to your Apple ID — use "Restore purchases" on a new iPhone. 73 and enjoy CW! This app uses Apple's Standard End User License Agreement: http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula Privacy: https://md2tech.it/privacy.html

About

CW Runner QT

This app simulates realistic Morse code contests for amateur radio operators. It enhances copying accuracy, contest rhythm, and on-air confidence with practical, contest-style practice and real callsigns.

Highlights
  • 4 contest training modes
  • Multi-language support
  • Optional guidance
  • Auto CQ support
  • 8,000+ real contest callsigns
  • Adjustable CW settings
  • Realistic signal effects
Features
Read full description

CW Runner QT is a CW contest training app for amateur radio operators. It is designed to improve callsign copying, exchange handling, contest serial number copying, response speed, operating rhythm, and overall accuracy under varied receiving conditions. FEATURES • Four CW contest training modes Pile-Up, Single Calls, WPX, and HST cover different operating scenarios, from handling multiple callers to high-speed telegraphy practice. • 8,000+ callsigns from real contest logs The app includes more than 8,000 amateur radio callsigns sourced from real CW contest logs, providing a broad range of prefixes, suffixes, and callsign structures for practical copying practice. • Twelve interface languages Supports English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Russian, Thai, and Portuguese. Localization is prepared with particular attention to established amateur radio and CW terminology. • Guidance Mode Optional contextual guidance explains training modes, radio settings, operating controls, signal effects, message functions, and relevant key actions without unnecessarily interrupting practice. • Auto CQ Automatically sends CQ at an adjustable interval to simulate repeated contest calling and help develop a stable operating rhythm. • Adjustable CW and receiver parameters Configure CW speed, pitch, RX bandwidth, RIT, QSK, station activity, and other supported settings to match different training objectives and receiving conditions. • Signal and interference effects Simulate QRN, QRM, QSB, Flutter, and LIDS to practice accurate copying under noise, interference, fading, and unstable signal conditions. • Nr Chaos Available in Pile-Up and Single Calls. When enabled, contest serial numbers become less predictable. In addition to the usual three-digit serial numbers, occasional two- and four-digit numbers may appear, reducing fixed-format anticipation and increasing the difficulty of number copying. • Minimum Caller Speed In Pile-Up and Single Calls, newly generated callers use a random speed between a configurable minimum and the CW speed; matching values produce a fixed speed, existing callers are unaffected, WPX and HST are unchanged, and on iPad the setting appears only in Detailed Settings, not on the home screen. • Contest messages and operating controls Dedicated controls are provided for common contest messages. Supported functions can also be operated with an external iPad keyboard for a workflow closer to physical-keyboard contest operation. • QSO records and review Record completed QSOs and review practice history, copied information, errors, and accuracy to identify areas for further improvement. • Statistics and QSO Rate Review cumulative statistics, personal best results, and a visual QSO Rate chart to evaluate operating efficiency, consistency, and session rhythm. • iCloud sync Supported practice records and related data can be synchronized through iCloud across supported devices using the same Apple Account. • Leaderboards, Game Center, and achievements Eligible scores can be displayed in the in-app leaderboards and synchronized with Game Center where supported. Achievements provide additional milestones for continued training. WHY CW RUNNER QT CW Runner QT is more than a basic Morse character practice tool. It is designed around the workflow of real CW contest operation, where operators must handle callsigns, exchanges, serial numbers, interference, timing, and continuous QSOs at the same time. Whether you are preparing for your first CW contest or refining existing operating skills, CW Runner QT provides a focused, systematic environment for long-term contest practice. OPEN-SOURCE LICENSING This app includes components based on code distributed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0). Source code for the MPL-covered files used in this app is available at: https://github.com/WGGao/CWRunner-MPL

Screenshots

CW Trainer4 screens
CW Runner QT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CW Runner QT at 100% against CW Trainer's 44%. CW Runner QT also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). CW Trainer's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

CW Trainer is free to download; CW Runner QT costs $2.99 up front. CW Trainer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. CW Runner QT asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CW Runner QT holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of CW Trainer's written reviews are positive against 100% of CW Runner QT's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CW Trainer ships an update every 3 months, CW Runner QT every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
CW Trainer versus CW Runner QT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCW TrainerCW Runner QT
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating1.8 (4 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews44.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size78 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developermd伟光 高

Customer experience

CW Trainer

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral11.1%
Negative44.4%

CW Runner QT

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

CW Trainer

Subscriptions1
  • DX Pass — Monthly$3.991 Month
One-time1
  • CW Trainer — Full Unlock$4.99
None

CW Runner QT

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CW Trainer free?
CW Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CW Runner QT free?
CW Runner QT costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CW Trainer or CW Runner QT?
CW Runner QT is rated higher. CW Trainer averages 1.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while CW Runner QT averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do CW Trainer or CW Runner QT have ads?
Neither CW Trainer nor CW Runner QT shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CW Trainer or CW Runner QT?
CW Trainer ships an update every 3 months, and CW Runner QT every 3 days. Most recently, CW Trainer was updated on October 13, 2026 and CW Runner QT on October 9, 2026.

Other comparisons