# HamStudy.org vs NMRA Magazine

The clearest difference is price: NMRA Magazine at Free against HamStudy.org's $3.99. NMRA Magazine also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). HamStudy.org's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

NMRA Magazine is free to download; HamStudy.org costs $3.99 up front. NMRA Magazine sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $13.99 per year. HamStudy.org asks for nothing beyond the download.

HamStudy.org holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HamStudy.org has 2.7K ratings behind it against 84, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of HamStudy.org's written reviews are positive against 67% of NMRA Magazine's.

HamStudy.org ships an update every 3 weeks, NMRA Magazine every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HamStudy.org | NMRA Magazine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (2.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamstudyorg/id1371288324/reviews)** | [4.7 (84 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nmra-magazine/id1612077295/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.7K** | 84 |
| Positive reviews | **93.7% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 30 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Signal Stuff](https://appshunter.io/developer/1371288323) | [National Model Railroad Association, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1612077297) |

## What reviewers say

### HamStudy.org

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamstudyorg/id1371288324)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Paid · Education, #64 Top Paid (US App Store)

This app offers an intelligent study mode that tracks your progress and focuses on areas where you struggle. It allows you to tailor your study to specific chapters and topics from license manuals, with explanations for difficult questions. Practice exams are also available.

**Highlights:** Intelligent study algorithms, Vetted user-submitted explanations, Infinite practice exams, Study all US Amateur Radio question pools, International question pools, Multi-user support, Cross-device progress sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great study tool
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient way to prepare for exams
- 🚀 Comprehensive coverage of exam material
- 👍 Helpful explanations and hints

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app freezes
- 👎 Some explanations could be clearer
- 🔋 Battery drain when using app extensively

**Reported bugs**

- Email support not working
- Occasional freezing or crashing

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to clear test history
- More detailed performance analytics
- Spell out acronyms and define technical terms


### NMRA Magazine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nmra-magazine/id1612077295)

Access the official digital publication of the National Model Railroad Association. Members receive automatic downloads of new issues as they are released, ensuring they never miss an update on the scale model railroading community.

**Highlights:** Digital magazine access, Automatic new issue downloads, Membership integration, Education and standards content, Advocacy and fellowship updates

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Year | $13.99 | per year |
| 2021 March | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2021 April | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2021 May | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2021 June | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2021 July | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2021 August | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2021 September | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2021 October | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2021 November | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HamStudy.org free?

HamStudy.org costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NMRA Magazine free?

NMRA Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HamStudy.org or NMRA Magazine?

HamStudy.org is rated higher. HamStudy.org averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2.7K ratings, while NMRA Magazine averages 4.7 from 84 ratings.

### Do HamStudy.org or NMRA Magazine have ads?

Neither HamStudy.org nor NMRA Magazine shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HamStudy.org or NMRA Magazine?

HamStudy.org ships an update every 3 weeks, and NMRA Magazine every 10 months. Most recently, HamStudy.org was updated on October 29, 2026 and NMRA Magazine on October 30, 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.*