# ClearNode vs SDR

The clearest difference is price: ClearNode at Free against SDR's $44.99. ClearNode also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (100% vs 84%). SDR's advantage is chart position (#104 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

ClearNode is free to download; SDR costs $44.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ClearNode holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 64 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of ClearNode's written reviews are positive against 84% of SDR's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 29, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ClearNode | SDR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $44.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clearnode/id1450732334/reviews)** | [4.5 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sdr-control-mobile/id1673327509/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 32 | **64** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 84.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#104** |
| Size | 7 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gerry Filby](https://appshunter.io/developer/962195315) | [Marcus Roskosch](https://appshunter.io/developer/334053438) |

## What reviewers say

### ClearNode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clearnode/id1450732334)

This app provides remote control and management for ClearNode devices, enabling users to configure settings, connect to nodes, and control integrated radio functions. It also allows for audio stream playback and monitoring of multiple devices.

**Highlights:** Configure AllStar, Echolink, and DMR credentials, Control radio parameters (frequency, CTCSS, volume), Connect/disconnect from remote nodes, Catalog and search active node lists, Monitor and control multiple devices, Play delayed audio streams, Power down or reboot device

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### SDR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sdr-control-mobile/id1673327509)

**Currently charting:** #104 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

Control your Icom transceiver remotely or locally from your iPhone. Operate in all modes, log QSOs, and utilize integrated digital modes like FT8/FT4 and SSTV. No extra hardware is needed for global access.

**Highlights:** Remote transceiver operation, All mode control, Auto logging logbook, Integrated FT8/FT4 tool, Integrated SSTV receiver, Integrated CW decoder and keyer, DX-Cluster integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works perfectly with ICOM radios
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🌟 Feature-rich and comprehensive
- 💯 Stable and reliable performance
- 📱 Great for remote operation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 FT8 decoding issues (lower signal levels)
- 🐛 Dialogs do not scale with larger text setting
- 🐛 UI elements can be cramped on iPhone
- 🐛 Some buttons are small and hard to press
- 🐛 Frequency display overlaps buttons

**Reported bugs**

- Dialogs do not scale with larger text setting
- Frequency display overlaps buttons
- FT8 decoding issues (lower signal levels than WSJTX)
- App crashes and leaves radio in transmit
- Logbook export not functional after update

**Requested features**

- Develop for IC-7800
- CarPlay support
- Apple Watch add-on
- Windows version
- JS8call support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ClearNode free?

ClearNode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SDR free?

SDR costs $44.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ClearNode or SDR?

ClearNode is rated higher. ClearNode averages 4.8 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while SDR averages 4.5 from 64 ratings.

### Do ClearNode or SDR have ads?

Neither ClearNode nor SDR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ClearNode or SDR?

ClearNode ships an update every 2 weeks, and SDR every 2 weeks. Most recently, ClearNode was updated on August 29, 2026 and SDR on September 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*