# FT8 Decoder vs Grid Locator

The clearest difference is price: Grid Locator at Free against FT8 Decoder's $1.99. Grid Locator also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 18 months). FT8 Decoder's advantage is iOS requirement (15.4 vs 18.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Grid Locator is free to download; FT8 Decoder costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

FT8 Decoder ships an update every 18 months, Grid Locator every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FT8 Decoder | Grid Locator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ft8-decoder/id1592847401/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8** | — |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Size | 1 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HotPaw Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/285074853) | [micro systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/1023315804) |

## What reviewers say

### FT8 Decoder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ft8-decoder/id1592847401)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Grid Locator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-locator/id6741041054)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FT8 Decoder free?

FT8 Decoder costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Grid Locator free?

Grid Locator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do FT8 Decoder or Grid Locator have ads?

Neither FT8 Decoder nor Grid Locator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FT8 Decoder or Grid Locator?

FT8 Decoder ships an update every 18 months, and Grid Locator every 10 days. Most recently, FT8 Decoder was updated on October 8, 2026 and Grid Locator on October 18, 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.*