# Q Codes vs VibeSDR

The clearest difference is review sentiment: VibeSDR at 100% against Q Codes's 50%. VibeSDR also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and ads (none vs shown). Q Codes's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). On in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Q Codes is free to download; VibeSDR costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

VibeSDR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Q Codes has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Q Codes's written reviews are positive against 100% of VibeSDR's.

Q Codes ships an update every 8 months, VibeSDR every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 7, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Q Codes | VibeSDR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [3.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/q-codes/id1195337244/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vibesdr/id6786344049/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Paid |
| Size | 5 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jonathan Gibbs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1111944472) | [Stuart Carr](https://appshunter.io/developer/6786344051) |

## What reviewers say

### Q Codes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/q-codes/id1195337244)

Access a comprehensive collection of standardized radiotelegraph communication codes, primarily for amateur radio use. This utility allows for rapid searching and lookup of any Q Code.

**Highlights:** Standardized Q Code collection, Radiotelegraph communication codes, Amateur radio focus, Quick lookup functionality, Comprehensive code database

**In-app purchases:** none


### VibeSDR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vibesdr/id6786344049)

This app acts as a versatile receiver client for various software-defined radio servers. It offers advanced display, tuning, and audio features, along with on-device decoders and voice control for a comprehensive radio experience.

**Highlights:** Connects to multiple SDR server protocols, GPU-rendered waterfall and spectrum display, Native background audio playback, On-device decoders for RTTY, NAVTEX, WEFAX, SSTV, Morse, Voice control via Siri, CarPlay and Apple Watch integration, Deep linking for station tuning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Q Codes free?

Q Codes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VibeSDR free?

VibeSDR costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Q Codes or VibeSDR?

VibeSDR is rated higher. Q Codes averages 3.7 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while VibeSDR averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Q Codes or VibeSDR have ads?

Q Codes shows ads; VibeSDR does not.

### Which is updated more often, Q Codes or VibeSDR?

Q Codes ships an update every 8 months, and VibeSDR every 2 weeks. Most recently, Q Codes was updated on July 7, 2026 and VibeSDR on September 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*