# RST Decoder vs Ham Shack

The clearest difference is ads: Ham Shack at none against RST Decoder's shown. Ham Shack also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). RST Decoder's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 1) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.5). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for RST Decoder against 5.0 for Ham Shack. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RST Decoder has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

RST Decoder ships an update every 2 months, Ham Shack weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RST Decoder | Ham Shack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rst-decoder/id1519587362/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ham-shack/id6798066342/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 6 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.5 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [koji kamogawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/1488210713) | [Josh Marler](https://appshunter.io/developer/6798066344) |

## What reviewers say

### RST Decoder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rst-decoder/id1519587362)

This application decodes Morse code from your microphone, acting as a practice tool to verify your keying accuracy. It offers advanced features like BPF and FFT decoders with automatic frequency and gain control, allowing for fine-tuning of reception parameters.

**Highlights:** Microphone Morse code decoding, Morse practice and keying check, BPF and FFT decoder options, Auto Frequency Detector (AFD), Auto Gain Control (AGC), Real-time CW signal display, Input signal recording/playback

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ham Shack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ham-shack/id6798066342)

This app combines amateur radio programming with real-time propagation data. Listen to news, podcasts, and educational content from the ham radio community. Access a dashboard with solar flux, sunspot numbers, and HF/VHF band conditions.

**Highlights:** Stream Ham Shack Radio live, View currently playing program, Check solar and geomagnetic conditions, Review HF band openings, Simple dark interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RST Decoder free?

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

### Is Ham Shack free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RST Decoder or Ham Shack?

RST Decoder and Ham Shack are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 7 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do RST Decoder or Ham Shack have ads?

RST Decoder shows ads; Ham Shack does not.

### Which is updated more often, RST Decoder or Ham Shack?

RST Decoder ships an update every 2 months, and Ham Shack weekly. Most recently, RST Decoder was updated on October 6, 2026 and Ham Shack on September 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.*