# rtl_tcp SDR vs iFTx

The clearest difference is price: iFTx at $1.99 against rtl_tcp SDR's $12.99. iFTx also leads on review sentiment (72% vs 40%) and rating (4.2 vs 3.9). rtl_tcp SDR's advantage is chart position (#191 vs unranked). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

rtl_tcp SDR costs $12.99 and iFTx $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

iFTx holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 70 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of rtl_tcp SDR's written reviews are positive against 72% of iFTx's.

rtl_tcp SDR ships an update every 4 months, iFTx every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | rtl_tcp SDR | iFTx |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $12.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | [3.9 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtl-tcp-sdr/id1351164646/reviews) | **[4.2 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iftx/id6446093115/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 32 | **70** |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **71.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#191** | — |
| Size | 3 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HotPaw Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/285074853) | [Christoph Nadig](https://appshunter.io/developer/1275170431) |

## 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


### iFTx

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iftx/id6446093115)

This app enables seamless communication using FT8 and FT4 digital modes directly from your iOS device. Enjoy portable digital connections, effortless operation with a user-friendly interface, and reliable performance for global contact.

**Highlights:** FT8 and FT4 digital modes, Portable digital communication, Global operator connections, User-friendly interface, Integrated QSO logging

**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 iFTx free?

iFTx costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

iFTx is rated higher. rtl_tcp SDR averages 3.9 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while iFTx averages 4.2 from 70 ratings.

### Do rtl_tcp SDR or iFTx have ads?

Neither rtl_tcp SDR nor iFTx shows ads.

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

rtl_tcp SDR ships an update every 4 months, and iFTx every 6 months. Most recently, rtl_tcp SDR was updated on October 16, 2026 and iFTx on October 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.*