Comparison

CW Trainer vs MorseLab

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

MorseLab

Features
Read full description

Everything Morse code, in one place — learn it, translate it, scan it and decode it. Free to start. No account, no login, and it works offline. Most Morse apps pick one lane: a trainer, OR a translator, OR an SOS light. MorseLab brings it all together in one clean, gamified app — in 16 languages. TRANSLATE BOTH WAYS • Type text or paste Morse (.- / ...) — instant two-way conversion • Play it back as an audio tone, flashlight/torch blink, full-screen flash, or vibration • Adjustable playback speed, copy and share • Built-in SOS beacon for emergencies SCAN TO MORSE • Point your camera or pick a photo from your gallery • On-device text recognition reads printed text in any language • Edit the recognised text, then turn it into Morse DECODE LIVE AUDIO • Hold your mic up to a Morse beep and watch the text appear • Tolerant of some background noise — decode signals on the fly LEARN MORSE (KOCH METHOD) • Proven Koch lessons add one character at a time • Reach 90% to unlock the next character • "Tap what you hear" listening drills • Quick-reference trainer: tap any letter to see and hear its code • Build a daily streak GAMES & QUIZZES • 60-second Timed Blitz against the clock • A shared Daily Challenge — a fresh 12-question set every day • Category quizzes, with best scores and accuracy tracked PROGRESS & PROFILE • Levels, XP, day streaks, achievements and a practice calendar • Personal records for every mode • Export and import your progress as JSON LEARN IT: EDUCATION SECTION • Basics and terms: dits, dahs, timing, prosigns and Q-codes • Pronunciation (di-dah) — tap to hear it • Memory-hook mnemonics and picture hooks (an emoji for every letter) • Interactive Morse tree — walk the dits and dahs to each letter • Letter shapes for visual learners • NATO phonetic alphabet (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie…) with pronunciation • The classic International Morse Code chart, with pinch-to-zoom DAILY REMINDER • An optional daily notification with a rotating Morse fact or tip and a gentle practice nudge • Personalised with your name, at a time you choose (6 AM by default) MADE TO FEEL RIGHT • Light, dark and system themes • Share the app with a friend via QR code WHO IT'S FOR • Amateur and ham radio operators and licence students • Preppers and emergency, survival and signalling fans • Students, teachers and Scouts • Accessibility users • Escape-room, puzzle and geocaching hobbyists • Aviation and maritime enthusiasts • Anyone curious about Morse code PRIVACY-FRIENDLY No account, no sign-up. Your Morse messages and learning progress stay on your device, and the camera, microphone and text recognition all run on-device — nothing you scan or decode is uploaded. MorseLab is ad-free and uses only privacy-respecting analytics and crash reporting to fix bugs and improve the app. Made with care by an independent developer. Start free — learn it, translate it, scan it and decode it.

Screenshots

CW Trainer4 screens
MorseLab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MorseLab at none against CW Trainer's 3. MorseLab also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). CW Trainer's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. CW Trainer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. MorseLab asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CW Trainer ships an update every 3 months, MorseLab weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
CW Trainer versus MorseLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCW TrainerMorseLab
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews44.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.5
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DevelopermdBimal Khatri

In-app purchases

3 purchases

CW Trainer

Subscriptions2
  • DX Pass — Monthly$2.991 Month
  • DX Pass — Annual14 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • CW Trainer — Full Unlock$4.99
None

MorseLab

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CW Trainer free?
CW Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MorseLab free?
MorseLab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do CW Trainer or MorseLab have ads?
MorseLab shows ads; CW Trainer does not.
Which is updated more often, CW Trainer or MorseLab?
CW Trainer ships an update every 3 months, and MorseLab weekly. Most recently, CW Trainer was updated on November 2, 2026 and MorseLab on November 5, 2026.

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