Comparison

FT8 Decoder vs PSKReporter Client

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

PSKReporter Client

Visualize real-time digital radio reception reports on an interactive world map. Understand propagation patterns, band conditions, and compare your station's performance against others globally. Ideal for amateur radio enthusiasts seeking to optimize their setups and identify new contacts.

Highlights
  • Real-time reception reports on a world map
  • Digital mode activity visualization
  • Band condition indicators
  • Greyline and twilight propagation analysis
  • DXCC tracking
  • Station performance benchmarking
  • Grid-based exploration
Features
Read full description

Explore FT8, FT4, and other digital mode reception reports on an interactive world map. Instantly see where your signals are being heard and which stations you are receiving using real, publicly available reception data. Watch digital activity unfold globally with intuitive visual feedback: • Real time reception reports plotted geographically • Switch between I Heard Rx, Heard Me Tx, and Grid based views • Visualize propagation paths, distance, and bearing • Density visualization reveals propagation hotspots and patterns Designed to make complex propagation behavior immediately understandable. Band Conditions at a Glance Understand band activity instantly: • Traffic light indicators showing band status Active, Moderate, Quiet • Detailed per band activity metrics • Live band condition list with spots, transmitters, and receivers • Band activity graphs showing propagation trends over time Pro A fast and practical way to decide which band to operate. Greyline and Propagation Intelligence Go beyond simple day and night propagation with advanced twilight analysis: • Identify contacts occurring in daylight, night, or twilight • Detect paths crossing the greyline • Compare SNR and distance performance between propagation modes • Greyline Gain Index to evaluate twilight performance versus full daylight • Per band greyline statistics Understand not only where contacts occur, but why they occur. DXCC Tracking Pro Import your ADIF log and automatically detect unworked DXCC entities appearing in your current view. Even when your station is off the air, monitor activity in your grid and see if nearby operators are hearing or working countries you do not yet have. Identify real propagation opportunities and react faster when new DXCC becomes active. Benchmark Your Station Performance Pro Measure how your station performs compared to others in your grid. The Benchmarking view analyzes recent activity and compares it with nearby active stations: • Compare unique stations, distance, and SNR • View percentile ranking versus local peers • Understand whether your reach is above or below average • Distribution charts and leaderboard views • Works in both I Heard Rx and Heard Me Tx modes • Band and time window aware analysis Ideal for testing antennas, optimizing setups, and evaluating real world performance. Grid Based Exploration Go beyond individual callsigns with geographic insights: • Search and explore activity using Maidenhead grid squares • Grid View map showing stations active within your grid • Grid based statistics and charts • Compare propagation behavior across regions Ideal for studying regional propagation patterns and band openings. Advanced Statistics and Analytics PSKReporter delivers deep, band aware insights: • Statistics adapt to Callsign, Heard, and Grid views • Per band graphs and distributions • Signal to noise ratio SNR analysis • Distance and activity distributions • Band specific trends and comparisons Turn raw reception data into actionable propagation intelligence. Signal Aware Visualization Reception reports are color coded by signal to noise ratio SNR, reflecting real world digital mode performance including weak signals that still decode successfully. Powerful Filtering • Filter by band, time window, and SNR • Reduce noise in busy conditions • Tailor the view to your operating style PSKReporter Pro - Real Time and Advanced Features Upgrade to PSKReporter Pro to unlock: • Real time MQTT streaming with no polling delay • Benchmarking and station performance ranking • Band activity graphs and advanced analytics • Grid search and advanced grid analysis • Enhanced greyline statistics and visualizations • DXCC tracking with ADIF import and live new entity detection. Note PSKReporter is an independent client that visualizes publicly available reception data and is not affiliated with or endorsed by PSKReporter.info.

Screenshots

FT8 Decoder1 screens
PSKReporter Client4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FT8 Decoder at 50% against PSKReporter Client's 0%. FT8 Decoder also leads on rating (4.3 vs 1.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). PSKReporter Client's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 18 months). On ads 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

PSKReporter Client is free to download; FT8 Decoder costs $1.99 up front. PSKReporter Client sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FT8 Decoder asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FT8 Decoder holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of FT8 Decoder's written reviews are positive against 0% of PSKReporter Client's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FT8 Decoder ships an update every 18 months, PSKReporter Client every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
FT8 Decoder versus PSKReporter Client: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFT8 DecoderPSKReporter Client
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (8 ratings) — better1.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings8 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 18 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.4 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHotPaw ProductionsVasco Barreiros

Customer experience

FT8 Decoder

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

PSKReporter Client

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

FT8 Decoder

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PSKReporter Client

One-time1
  • PSK Reporter Pro$4.99

Questions

Is FT8 Decoder free?
FT8 Decoder costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PSKReporter Client free?
PSKReporter Client is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, FT8 Decoder or PSKReporter Client?
FT8 Decoder is rated higher. FT8 Decoder averages 4.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while PSKReporter Client averages 1.0 from 2 ratings.
Do FT8 Decoder or PSKReporter Client have ads?
Neither FT8 Decoder nor PSKReporter Client shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FT8 Decoder or PSKReporter Client?
FT8 Decoder ships an update every 18 months, and PSKReporter Client every 3 days. Most recently, FT8 Decoder was updated on October 8, 2026 and PSKReporter Client on October 12, 2026.

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