Mandel vs RST 599 Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Mandel
Explore the intricate beauty of the Mandelbrot set with this educational app. Zoom into fractal patterns, adjust rendering parameters, and choose from vibrant color themes. Learn about the mathematical and historical context behind this fascinating fractal.
- Render Mandelbrot set snapshots
- Zoom functionality
- Adjust iteration count
- Manipulate render scale
- Four colorful themes
- Mathematical background information
- Open-source code
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Render beautiful snapshots of the well-known Mandelbrot set on your iOS device! This OpenGL-ES-based educational app has been developed as part of the 'Multimedia' lecture at Freiberg University of Mining and Technology. It allows to zoom into the Mandelbrot set, manipulate iteration count and render scale and choose one of four colorful themes: - Fire - Ice - Ash - Psychedelic Further details about the mathematical and historical background as well as implementation aspects are included. The source code of Mandel-GL has been released under the Apache License 2.0.
RST 599 Pro
This application simulates amateur radio CW QSOs with realistic call signs, signal levels, and speeds. It supports various QSO styles, pile-ups, and includes features like RIT, CW filters, and a spectrum scope for an immersive experience.
- Realistic CW QSO simulation
- Pile-up reproduction (up to 5 stations)
- Multiple QSO style support
- RIT and CW filter functions
- Spectrum scope display
- Customizable call sign and CW speed
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This app is a real CW QSO simulator for Amateur Radio. "599BK type QSO", "Rubber stamp type QSO" and "Contest type QSO" are supported. In addition, the call sign, signal level, CW speed, etc. that occur differ for each QSO in order to achieve realism. Furthermore, the call sign and CW speed of your own station that issues CQ can be set arbitrarily. 【Main features】 1. Reproduction of "pile-up" Called from up to 5 stations simultaneously. 2. "599BK","Rubber Stamp" and "AADX Contest" style support. 3.RIT and CW filter functions Band Width(100-999Hz) control supported. 4.Landscape display support. 5.Realistic signal meter according to audio signal level. 6.Status display showing TX / RX operation. 7.The spectrum scope display 【Other features】 1. Select the number of QSOs to communicate. You can choose from 5,10,20,50,100. 2. Ability to select QRN. You can choose None, Weak, Norm, Hard. 3. Function to select Callsign Area. You can choose from JA's USA's or W / W. 4. Function to select SideTone. 5. Synchronized with CW BandPassFilter. 6. Judgement of "RST, QRA and QTH" or "RST, QRA and WX" information. 7.Supported the ESC button from the long TX/RX. 8.Supported the Score Clear button of Hi-Score. 9.Support the capture function of Hi-Score dialog. 10.Supported the QSB in the mode of "599BK / AADX" and "W/W" Supported keyboard input from Apple Silicon Mac. (Not compatible with iOS) [Support Key] A-Z, 0-9, / Enter:return ESC:esc BS:delete CQ:UpArrow AGN:DownArrow TU:[ LEFT:LeftArrow RIGHT:RightArrow
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mandel at 100% against RST 599 Pro's 50%. Mandel also leads on price (Free vs $4.99). RST 599 Pro's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.2) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 62 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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
Mandel is free to download; RST 599 Pro costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
RST 599 Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Mandel's written reviews are positive against 50% of RST 599 Pro's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Mandel ships an update every 62 months, RST 599 Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Mandel | RST 599 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 3.2 (5 ratings) | 4.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 62 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Technische Universitaet Bergakademie Freiberg | koji kamogawa |
Customer experience
Mandel
RST 599 Pro
In-app purchases
Mandel
No in-app purchases
RST 599 Pro
No in-app purchases
