Comparison

CW Keyboard vs HamAlert

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

Head to head
About

CW Keyboard

Type messages using Morse code on your iOS device. This app provides a reference guide to help you learn and practice sending Morse code efficiently. It's ideal for amateur radio operators looking to improve their CW mode skills.

Highlights
  • Morse code input
  • Morse code reference guide
  • Practice Morse code sending
  • Amateur radio CW mode training
Features
Read full description

CW Keyboard turns your iPhone's keyboard into a Morse code input pad. Instead of a standard QWERTY layout, you type using taps and holds — a quick tap for a dot, a longer hold for a dash — just like sending Morse code (CW) on a radio key. FEATURES - Custom system-wide keyboard — use it in Messages, Notes, Mail, and any app that accepts text input - Built-in Morse Code reference chart covering the full alphabet, numbers, and common punctuation - Simple setup guide to get the keyboard enabled in a few taps - Shift, backspace, space, and return controls alongside the Morse input pad - Full support for Light and Dark Mode WHO IT'S FOR CW Keyboard is great for amateur radio operators practicing their Morse code sending skills, Morse enthusiasts, and anyone curious about learning CW. Get comfortable with dot-dash timing in a low-pressure way, right from the keyboard you already use every day. HOW IT WORKS Tap quickly for a dot, hold a bit longer for a dash. Pause briefly between letters, and the keyboard automatically decodes your taps into text and types it for you.

About

HamAlert

Receive instant push notifications for desired amateur radio contacts. Filter alerts by various criteria like callsign, band, mode, and location. Stay updated on DX spots from multiple sources.

Highlights
  • Push notifications for desired stations
  • Filter spots by DXCC, callsign, and location
  • Support for Reverse Beacon Network, SOTAwatch, DX cluster, PSK Reporter
  • Filter by band, mode, and time
  • Filter by spotter callsign and DXCC
Features
Read full description

This app is a companion to the HamAlert web site (hamalert.org) and lets you receive push notifications from HamAlert. HamAlert is a system that allows amateur radio operators to get notifications when a desired station appears on the DX cluster, the Reverse Beacon Network, SOTAwatch, POTA, WWFF Spotline, or PSK Reporter. Spots can be filtered by various criteria, including: • DXCC (both actual and callsign home DXCC) • Callsign • Island reference • Summit reference • Park reference • CQ zone • Continent • Band • Mode • Time and days of week • Source • Spotter callsign and DXCC

Screenshots

CW Keyboard4 screens
HamAlert1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HamAlert at Free against CW Keyboard's $0.99. HamAlert also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 119 months) and ratings volume (34 vs 6). CW Keyboard's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (80% vs 67%). On ads, in-app purchases, 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

HamAlert is free to download; CW Keyboard costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CW Keyboard holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HamAlert has 34 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of CW Keyboard's written reviews are positive against 67% of HamAlert's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CW Keyboard ships an update every 119 months, HamAlert every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
CW Keyboard versus HamAlert: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCW KeyboardHamAlert
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (6 ratings) — better4.0 (34 ratings)
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings634 — better
Update frequencyEvery 119 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPulsely ConsultingManuel Kasper

Customer experience

CW Keyboard

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

HamAlert

All ratings34 ratings
Positive67.6%
Neutral8.8%
Negative23.5%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral9.5%
Negative23.8%

In-app purchases

None

CW Keyboard

No in-app purchases

None

HamAlert

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CW Keyboard free?
CW Keyboard costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is HamAlert free?
HamAlert is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CW Keyboard or HamAlert?
CW Keyboard is rated higher. CW Keyboard averages 4.2 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while HamAlert averages 4.0 from 34 ratings.
Do CW Keyboard or HamAlert have ads?
Neither CW Keyboard nor HamAlert shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CW Keyboard or HamAlert?
CW Keyboard ships an update every 119 months, and HamAlert every 5 months. Most recently, CW Keyboard was updated on October 17, 2026 and HamAlert on October 16, 2026.

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