Comparison

AntScope vs SDR

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Connects to RigExpert analyzers via BLE
  • SWR chart visualization
  • Smith chart visualization
  • All parameters mode
  • Supports RigExpert Stick 230 BLE
Features
Read full description

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

About

SDR

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Software Defined Radio Client for Icom Transceivers and your iPhone SDR-Control Mobile is a full featured iPhone App to operate your Icom Transceiver at home or from around the world without additional Hard- or Software. Important: This App requires one of the following Icom Transceivers: IC-705, IC-7610, IC-9700, IC-7760 or the IC-R8600 Receiver or the new IC-7300 MK2 FACTS AND FEATURES: ■ Native iOS 26 app, backward compatible to iOS 17 ■ Compatible with any iPhone ■ Complete operation of your Icom Transceiver in all modes ■ Use the App local or to remote access of your Transceiver from any place without additional Hard- or Software ■ Logbook with auto logging, ADIF Im-/Export ■ UDP Log submission when using external logging software ■ Integrated full featured FT8 / FT4 Tool ■ Integrated SSTV receiver (NEW) ■ Integrated CW Decoder ■ Integrated CW Keyer ■ DX-Cluster integration ■ Call sign lookup integrated ■ Displays Calls on Map with heading and distance information ■ And much more... WHAT YOU NEED: - An Icom IC-705, IC-7610, IC-9700 or IC-7760 Transceiver or IC-R8600 Receiver or the new IC-7300 MK2 - The Transceiver needs to be connected to your Network (WiFi or LAN) - No USB cable needed or supported - An iPhone that runs at least iOS 17 Find out more here: https://ham-radio-apps.com Read the Manual: http://go-to.me/sdrcontrol-mobile-manual

Screenshots

AntScope4 screens
SDR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SDR at 84% against AntScope's 23%. SDR also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). AntScope's advantage is price (Free vs $44.99) 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SDR holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 52 and 64 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of AntScope's written reviews are positive against 84% of SDR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AntScope ships an update every 2 months, SDR every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
AntScope versus SDR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAntScopeSDR
PriceFree — better$44.99
Rating2.3 (52 ratings)4.5 (64 ratings) — better
Positive reviews22.5% of reviews84.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5264 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#73 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRig Expert Ukraine Ltd.Marcus Roskosch

Customer experience

AntScope

All ratings43 ratings
Positive34.9%
Neutral2.3%
Negative62.8%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive22.5%
Neutral10.0%
Negative67.5%

SDR

All ratings64 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.9%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive84.1%
Neutral5.8%
Negative10.1%

Bugs and requests

AntScope

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SDR

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • 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
Show 7 more
  • Function button for horizontal scrolling not fully displayed
  • FT8 decode is useless and unreliable
  • Messed up radio, requiring reset
  • RX audio unusable outside home network (prior to 1.5.1)
  • Struggles with audio RX packets on remote cellular networks
  • Cannot work over mobile data with certain carriers (EE)
  • FT8 alerts sound but don't display

Requested features

14 requests
  • Develop for IC-7800
  • CarPlay support
  • Apple Watch add-on
  • Windows version
  • JS8call support
Show 9 more
  • More digital modes
  • Display memory bank names
  • Initiate memory scan from app
  • WSPR implementation
  • Tool for WSPR
  • More FT8/FT4 features (e.g., setting transmit frequency directly in FT8 view)
  • Send image to unit
  • KISS TNC support
  • Control digital modes (reflectors, etc.)

In-app purchases

None

AntScope

No in-app purchases

None

SDR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AntScope free?
AntScope 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, AntScope or SDR?
SDR is rated higher. AntScope averages 2.3 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while SDR averages 4.5 from 64 ratings.
Do AntScope or SDR have ads?
Neither AntScope nor SDR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AntScope or SDR?
AntScope ships an update every 2 months, and SDR every 2 weeks. Most recently, AntScope was updated on September 30, 2026 and SDR on September 29, 2026.

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