CW Keyboard vs HamAlert
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Morse code input
- Morse code reference guide
- Practice Morse code sending
- Amateur radio CW mode training
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | CW Keyboard | HamAlert |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.2 (6 ratings) — better | 4.0 (34 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 34 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 119 months | Every 5 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pulsely Consulting | Manuel Kasper |
Customer experience
CW Keyboard
HamAlert
In-app purchases
CW Keyboard
No in-app purchases
HamAlert
No in-app purchases








