Comparison

CQDX 59 vs SatNOGS

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

Head to head
About

CQDX 59

This app simulates amateur radio QSOs, allowing users to practice CQ calls and exchange signal reports. It offers realistic variations in call signs, voice quality, and signal levels for an authentic experience. Users can customize their own call sign and select various communication modes.

Highlights
  • QSO simulation for amateur radio
  • Realistic call sign and voice variations
  • Customizable own station call sign
  • 59 style or AADX Contest Style QSO
  • Phonetic code conversion
  • Pile-up mode support
  • QRN selection
Features
Read full description

This App is a real QSO simulator for Amateur Radio(HAM). Reproduce “QSO for CQ call, and 59 report exchange". In addition, the call sign and the voice quality (tone, speech speed) signal level of the speaker differ for each QSO to provide realism. Furthermore, the call sign of your own station that issues CQ can be set arbitrarily. 【Characteristic】 1. 59 style QSO or AADX Contest Style QSO 2. All call signs are converted to phonetic codes 3.Pseudo signal meter 4.Status display showing TX / RX 5.Voice select function from YL / OM 6.Phonetic code select function 7.Support the Pile-up Mode 【Other features】 1. A function to select the number of QSOs to communicate.     You can choose from 5 or 20. 2. A function to select QRN.     ON / OFF can be selected. 3. A function to select the area of ​​the call sign of the partner station.     You can choose from JA USA or W / W. 4. Supports easy mode. The pitch and volume of the partner station are constant. 5. Function to clear score information You can delete the high score information that you have. Supported keyboard input from Apple Silicon Mac. [Support Key] A-Z, 0-9, / Enter:return ESC:esc BS:delete CQ:UpArrow AGN:DownArrow TU:[ LEFT:LeftArrow RIGHT:RightArrow

About

SatNOGS

Access a global network of satellite ground stations to communicate with satellites and observe their data. The platform is open to all, with public observation results freely distributed. Resources are available for building your own ground station.

Highlights
  • Global ground station network access
  • Remote ground station operation
  • Satellite communication
  • Public observation data access
  • Ground station building resources
Read full description

SatNOGS Network is a global management interface to facilitate multiple ground station operations remotely. An observer is able to take advantage of the full network of SatNOGS ground stations around the world. The network is open to anyone. Any observer is able to utilize all available Ground Stations and communicate with Satellites. All observations results are public and all data are distributed freely under the Creative Commons Atribution-Share Alike license. Whether you own satellite ground station equipment or you want to build one you can head to SatNOGS Project site to get up to date documentation and info on how to build a SatNOGS ground station. App functionality is currently limited by SatNOGS API and will be significantly improved in next major release.

Screenshots

CQDX 594 screens
SatNOGS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SatNOGS at none against CQDX 59's shown. SatNOGS also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). CQDX 59's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for CQDX 59 against 5.0 for SatNOGS. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CQDX 59 ships an update every 3 weeks, SatNOGS every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
CQDX 59 versus SatNOGS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCQDX 59SatNOGS
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings34 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerkoji kamogawaVictor Belov

Customer experience

CQDX 59

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

SatNOGS

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

CQDX 59

No in-app purchases

None

SatNOGS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CQDX 59 free?
CQDX 59 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SatNOGS free?
SatNOGS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CQDX 59 or SatNOGS?
CQDX 59 and SatNOGS are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 4 ratings respectively.
Do CQDX 59 or SatNOGS have ads?
CQDX 59 shows ads; SatNOGS does not.
Which is updated more often, CQDX 59 or SatNOGS?
CQDX 59 ships an update every 3 weeks, and SatNOGS every 5 months. Most recently, CQDX 59 was updated on October 17, 2026 and SatNOGS on October 1, 2026.

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