# FT8 Decoder vs Modern RPN

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Modern RPN at 100% against FT8 Decoder's 50%. Modern RPN also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 18 months). FT8 Decoder's advantage is ratings volume (8 vs 1) and price ($1.99 vs $2.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

FT8 Decoder costs $1.99 and Modern RPN $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Modern RPN holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FT8 Decoder has 8 ratings behind it against 1, 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 100% of Modern RPN's.

FT8 Decoder ships an update every 18 months, Modern RPN every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FT8 Decoder | Modern RPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ft8-decoder/id1592847401/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/modern-rpn/id6760340697/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 1 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.4** | 26.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HotPaw Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/285074853) | [Kevin Flathers](https://appshunter.io/developer/1883973737) |

## 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


### Modern RPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/modern-rpn/id6760340697)

A minimalist reverse Polish notation calculator for iOS devices. It offers Standard, Binary, and Hex modes for quick calculations and programmer-friendly conversions, featuring a clean interface and a 4-level stack.

**Highlights:** Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) input, Standard, Binary, and Hex modes, 4-level visible stack, Calculation history, Saved session state, Clean dark interface

**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 Modern RPN free?

Modern RPN costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, FT8 Decoder or Modern RPN?

Modern RPN is rated higher. FT8 Decoder averages 4.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Modern RPN averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do FT8 Decoder or Modern RPN have ads?

Neither FT8 Decoder nor Modern RPN shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FT8 Decoder or Modern RPN?

FT8 Decoder ships an update every 18 months, and Modern RPN every 5 days. Most recently, FT8 Decoder was updated on October 8, 2026 and Modern RPN on October 7, 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.*