Comparison

FT8 Decoder vs SDR

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

Head to head
About

FT8 Decoder

This application decodes FT8 digital signals from amateur radio bands. It can process audio from external sources or directly from an SSB radio or SDR. The app also generates FT8 modulated audio for experimentation.

Highlights
  • Decodes FT8 8FSK modulated signals
  • Processes external audio or SDR sound
  • Supports standard callsigns and 13-character messages
  • Generates FT8 message audio
  • Experiment with sending and receiving FT8 audio
Read full description

An FT8 decoder. FT8 is a weak signal digital mode, currently very popular in the amateur radio HF shortwave bands. The ft8d app allows decoding FT8 8FSK modulated signals contained in externally provided audio or sound from an SSB radio or SDR. The app supports Level 1 decoding of messages with standard callsigns or 13 character free text messages. The app can also generate standard FT8 message audio, so can be used to experiment with sending and receiving FT8 encoded and modulated audio. The app does NOT perform Auto-sequencing, or decode long hashed callsigns.

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
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

FT8 Decoder1 screens
SDR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: FT8 Decoder at $1.99 against SDR's $44.99. FT8 Decoder also leads on iOS requirement (15.4 vs 17.6). SDR's advantage is review sentiment (84% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 18 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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

FT8 Decoder costs $1.99 and SDR $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 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SDR has 64 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of FT8 Decoder's written reviews are positive against 84% of SDR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FT8 Decoder ships an update every 18 months, SDR every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
FT8 Decoder versus SDR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFT8 DecoderSDR
Price$1.99 — better$44.99
Rating4.3 (8 ratings)4.5 (64 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews84.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings864 — better
Update frequencyEvery 18 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.4 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHotPaw ProductionsMarcus Roskosch

Customer experience

FT8 Decoder

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative33.3%

SDR

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

Bugs and requests

FT8 Decoder

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

FT8 Decoder

No in-app purchases

None

SDR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FT8 Decoder free?
FT8 Decoder costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SDR free?
SDR costs $44.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FT8 Decoder or SDR?
SDR is rated higher. FT8 Decoder averages 4.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while SDR averages 4.5 from 64 ratings.
Do FT8 Decoder or SDR have ads?
Neither FT8 Decoder nor SDR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FT8 Decoder or SDR?
FT8 Decoder ships an update every 18 months, and SDR every 2 weeks. Most recently, FT8 Decoder was updated on September 21, 2026 and SDR on September 29, 2026.

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