Comparison

HamAlert vs Nelos

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

Head to head
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

About

Nelos

Features
Read full description

Stay connected beyond cell coverage. Nelos is an offline messaging, location sharing, and tracking app for families and small teams using MeshCore-compatible LoRa radios. Message your team, see everyone on a map, find trackers, and coordinate even when cell service or internet isn’t available. No radio yet? Offline maps, location history, and personal waypoints work right away. Connect a MeshCore-compatible radio to unlock messaging, teams, trackers, and help requests. STAY TOGETHER OFF-GRID • See teammates and compatible trackers on one map • Send team messages and direct messages over LoRa • Track family members, pets, and personal belongings with compatible trackers • Find a tracker faster with Find Mode • Create Safe Zones and get alerts when a tracker leaves or arrives • Look back at every alert in Activity • Send help requests and coordinate responses with your teams • Create and join teams offline using QR codes READY FOR THE OUTDOORS • Download detailed offline maps worldwide • Mark campsites, meeting points, hazards, and other locations with waypoints • Review the last 24 hours of location history MORE WITH NELOS PRO Unlock multiple active teams, unlimited trackers per team, unlimited offline maps, and up to 90 days of location history with a one-time lifetime purchase. PRIVACY-FOCUSED No account required. No central message server. No ads. Your location never goes to our servers: it is shared only with your team, over LoRa, when you choose. Built for families, hiking, camping, outdoor adventures, travel, volunteer teams, festivals, and other off-grid situations. COMPATIBLE HARDWARE Off-grid communication requires MeshCore-compatible LoRa hardware. Download maps before heading out. Location updates and message delivery depend on your devices, radio conditions, terrain, positioning availability, and permissions. Help requests go only to members of your teams, not to emergency services or to Nelos. Nelos should not be your only means of communication or safety in critical situations.

Screenshots

HamAlert1 screens
Nelos4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HamAlert at none against Nelos's 1. Nelos's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 months). On price, ads, 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. Nelos sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HamAlert asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HamAlert ships an update every 5 months, Nelos every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
HamAlert versus Nelos: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHamAlertNelos
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (34 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings34 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB73 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperManuel KasperThe Quyen Le

In-app purchases

None

HamAlert

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Nelos

One-time1
  • Nelos Pro Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is HamAlert free?
HamAlert is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Nelos free?
Nelos is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HamAlert or Nelos have ads?
Neither HamAlert nor Nelos shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HamAlert or Nelos?
HamAlert ships an update every 5 months, and Nelos every 5 days. Most recently, HamAlert was updated on October 20, 2026 and Nelos on October 25, 2026.

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