# rtl_tcp SDR vs HAM

rtl_tcp SDR and HAM both sit at 3.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 69% of HAM's written reviews are positive against 40% of rtl_tcp SDR's. HAM also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). rtl_tcp SDR's advantage is chart position (#191 vs unranked) and price ($12.99 vs $14.99). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

rtl_tcp SDR costs $12.99 and HAM $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for rtl_tcp SDR against 4.0 for HAM. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 7 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 40% of rtl_tcp SDR's written reviews are positive against 69% of HAM's.

rtl_tcp SDR ships an update every 4 months, HAM monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | rtl_tcp SDR | HAM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$12.99** | $14.99 |
| Rating | [3.9 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtl-tcp-sdr/id1351164646/reviews) | **[4.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ham-toolbox/id1630108109/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **32** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **69.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#191** | — |
| Size | 3 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HotPaw Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/285074853) | [Marcus Roskosch](https://appshunter.io/developer/334053438) |

## What reviewers say

### rtl_tcp SDR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtl-tcp-sdr/id1351164646)

**Currently charting:** #191 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

This app acts as a software-defined radio receiver for iOS devices, allowing you to listen to various radio signals and view RF spectrum data. It connects to external SDR peripherals via a network protocol, requiring a separate server setup.

**Highlights:** Listen to AM, FM, SSB, CW signals, View RF spectrum and waterfall, Connect to networked RTL-SDR peripherals, Supports Airspy HF+, SDRPlay, LimeSDR Mini, Direct connection to Hermes Lite 2

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### HAM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ham-toolbox/id1630108109)

This utility app offers a comprehensive suite of tools for amateur radio operators, including band conditions, DX-Cluster monitoring, and a logbook. It features direct radio integration for tuning and automatic logging, along with various calculations and resource information.

**Highlights:** DX-Cluster and PSK-Reporter activity monitoring, Bandplan, Glossar, and AWG resource information, Built-in radio integration for direct tuning, Fully featured logbook with QSO editing, LOTW and QRZ.com log submission, Calculations for Ohm's law, VSWR, and antennas, CW Encoder and Decoder

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is rtl_tcp SDR free?

rtl_tcp SDR costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HAM free?

HAM costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, rtl_tcp SDR or HAM?

HAM is rated higher. rtl_tcp SDR averages 3.9 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while HAM averages 4.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do rtl_tcp SDR or HAM have ads?

Neither rtl_tcp SDR nor HAM shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, rtl_tcp SDR or HAM?

rtl_tcp SDR ships an update every 4 months, and HAM monthly. Most recently, rtl_tcp SDR was updated on October 16, 2026 and HAM on October 5, 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.*