AntScope vs SDR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AntScope
Connect your RigExpert antenna analyzer to your smartphone for detailed antenna system analysis. Visualize SWR and Smith charts, and view all parameters in one place.
- Connects to RigExpert analyzers via BLE
- SWR chart visualization
- Smith chart visualization
- All parameters mode
- Supports RigExpert Stick 230 BLE
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AntScope for iOS is a software designed to connect the RigExpert antenna analyzers with BLE option to Apple smartphones. This software allows to get information about your antenna system and visualize that information: - SWR chart (standing wave ratio) - Smith chart - All parameters mode Supported analyzers: - RigExpert Stick 230 - RigExpert Stick 230 BLE - Stick Pro - Stick XPro - Stick 500 - Match - Match U - AA-2000 - AA-3000
SDR
Control compatible Icom transceivers remotely or locally from your iPad. Offers full operation, dual VFO, a logbook, and integrated digital modes like FT8/FT4, SSTV, and CW decoding.
- Remote transceiver operation
- Dual VFO and DualWatch
- Integrated logbook with ADIF support
- FT8/FT4, SSTV, and CW decoder tools
- DX-Cluster integration
- Call sign lookup and map display
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Your Icom radio on your iPad: at home over Wi-Fi or from anywhere over the internet. Made by a ham, for hams, with personal support included. SDR-Control shows the spectrum scope and waterfall of your Icom radio with all its controls on the large iPad screen. No extra hardware or software needed. WORKS WITH ■ IC-705 (Wi-Fi) ■ IC-7610, IC-7760, IC-9700, IC-7300 MK2 and the IC-R8600 receiver (radio on your network by cable) The app connects over the network only. The older IC-7300 (without MK2) has no network connection and can't be used. OPERATE ■ Spectrum scope and waterfall with band plan, DX Cluster and FT8 spots ■ Two VFOs, filters, preamp, attenuator, NB, NR, notch, AGC and more ■ Compact floating panels: tuning, PTT, CW, memories, macros, Command Bar, DTMF, RIT / ∆TX, D-Star ■ Your iPad as microphone and speaker; the radio keeps playing in the background, also with the cover closed MODES ■ FT8-Improved with AutoAnswer and AutoCQ, plus the classic FT8 ■ JS8 keyboard chat ■ CW with decoder, keyer and CW keyboard ■ Speech: incoming voice transcribed and translated, your typed text sent as speech ■ SSTV, HF-Fax, APRS and WSPR FT8-Improved, JS8, Speech and WSPR need iPadOS 26. TOOLS ■ Logbook with ADIF import and export, shared via iCloud with SmartSDR, FT-Control, TS-Control and K4-Control, on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro ■ DX Cluster, POTA, PSK Reporter, Call Lookup, Band Plan, Network Stats, Memories, Scanning, S.A.T. ■ Controllers: MIDI, CTR2, HaliKey, Pryme, Flic ■ 4O3A Genius devices and Ultra Beam antennas MADE BY A HAM Made by Marcus, DL8MRE, who has been developing apps for Apple devices since 2009 and uses this app every day in his own shack, where all supported radios are on the desk. Personal online support and a detailed manual are included. Updates with new modes and features are free: no subscription, no in-app purchases. WHAT YOU NEED ■ One of the radios above, connected to your network ■ An iPad with iPadOS 18 or later ■ For use over the internet: access to your home network from outside (see the manual) Manual: https://go-to.me/sdrcontrol-ios-manual More apps: https://ham-radio-apps.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: SDR at 78% against AntScope's 21%. SDR also leads on rating (4.2 vs 2.3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). AntScope's advantage is price (Free vs $49.99) and device support (3 vs 1). On ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
AntScope is free to download; SDR costs $49.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SDR holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 58 and 70 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of AntScope's written reviews are positive against 78% of SDR's.
AntScope ships an update every 3 months, SDR every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AntScope | SDR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $49.99 |
| Rating | 2.3 (58 ratings) | 4.2 (70 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 21.4% of reviews | 78.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 58 | 70 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 55 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rig Expert Ukraine Ltd | Marcus Roskosch |
Customer experience
AntScope
SDR
In-app purchases
AntScope
No in-app purchases
SDR
No in-app purchases








