BlueDV vs HamSphere 5.0
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BlueDV
Transform your Apple device into a DMR and Fusion hotspot. This app enables seamless connectivity with a DVMEGA and iBlueStack for amateur radio communication.
- DMR hotspot functionality
- Fusion hotspot functionality
- Works with DVMEGA
- Works with iBlueStack
- Utilizes Apple device
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With this application you can use your Apple device as a DMR and Fusion hotspot in combination with a DVMEGA and iBlueStack.
HamSphere 5.0
This virtual ham radio transceiver simulates HF bands from 10-160m, including 6m, 2m, and 70cm. It features USB, LSB, and CW modes, power settings, and built-in audio filters. Additional instruments can be unlocked via in-app purchases.
- Virtual HF bands (10-160m)
- 6m, 2m, and 70cm bands
- USB, LSB, and CW modes
- Built-in audio filters
- Power setting
- In-app purchase instrument expansions
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This handheld Amateur Radio transceiver offers 10-160m virtual HamSphere HF bands including 6m, 2m and 70cm. It comes with a fully working 30 day trial. The transceiver has three built in audio filters, USB, LSB and CW Modes, power setting. The transceiver can be expanded with a number of useful instruments as in-app-purchases.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: HamSphere 5.0 at 3.9 against BlueDV's 3.1. HamSphere 5.0 also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). BlueDV's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 30) and review sentiment (52% vs 38%). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. HamSphere 5.0 sells 30 one-off in-app purchases. BlueDV asks for nothing beyond the download.
HamSphere 5.0 holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of BlueDV's written reviews are positive against 38% of HamSphere 5.0's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
BlueDV ships an update every 4 months, HamSphere 5.0 monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BlueDV | HamSphere 5.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (24 ratings) | 3.9 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 52.2% of reviews — better | 37.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 24 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 39 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | David Grootendorst | HamSphere AB |
Customer experience
BlueDV
HamSphere 5.0
In-app purchases
BlueDV
No in-app purchases
HamSphere 5.0
- 3el T-yagi E (30m)$4.99
- 3el T-yagi E (40m)$4.99
- 3el T-yagi W (20m)$4.99
Show 27 moreShow fewer
- 3el T-yagi E (20m)$4.99
- G5RV North-South (10-160m)$4.99
- J-Pole (12m)$6.99
- J-Pole (17m)$6.99
- Plugizer MBP009$6.99
- Lookup Box MBP011$6.99
- J-Pole (11m)$6.99
- J-Pole (20m)$6.99
- Log Book MBP003$6.99
- DX-Monitor MBP008$6.99
- Waterfall MBP002$6.99
- Antenna Selector MBP004$6.99
- Antenna Rotator MBP005$6.99
- Oscilloscope MBP006$6.99
- DX-Cluster MBP010$6.99
- 8-Band Omni Whip (10-40m)$6.99
- J-Pole (10m)$6.99
- G5RV East-West (10-160m)$6.99
- Moxon (20m)$14.99
- Moxon (12m)$14.99
- Moxon (17m)$14.99
- Moxon (10m)$14.99
- Moxon (11m)$14.99
- Bruce Array (60m)$24.99
- Bruce Array (80m)$24.99
- VU2NSB Dangler (20,17, 12,10m)$29.99
- HamSphere Subscription$29.99
