Comparison

FT8 Decoder vs Greyline FT8

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

Greyline FT8

This app provides a portable digital ham radio experience for field operations on iOS devices. It automates callsign lookups, displays real-time spot data, and offers automated calling or manual control for QSOs. Features include intelligent frequency selection, audio delay adjustment, and direct logging to QRZ.

Highlights
  • Field-ready digital ham radio
  • Automated callsign and DXCC lookups
  • Real-time PSK Reporter spot data
  • Automated CQ Gatherer and Hunter modes
  • Intelligent automatic frequency selection
  • Direct-to-QRZ logging and ADI export
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Greyline FT8 is a highly portable, capable amateur radio app designed specifically for field operation with an iOS device. I designed this app because I got very used to my full-stack FT8 solution: GridTracker, WSJT-X, PSK Reporter, WRL Desktop, several browser tabs, and more. But I didn't want the bulk and weight of a full Windows PC in the field. At the same time, while there are excellent and lightweight FT8 iOS solutions out there, they were lacking features I really wanted. Greyline is everything you need and nothing you don't. It automatically locates your grid square, performs callsign and calling station DXCC lookups (internet access required), and can even show you real-time spot data from PSK Reporter. Want to adjust your directional antenna? Now you've got the info you need to do it! Greyline also incorporates automated calling features. Gatherer mode calls CQ, responds to the first reply it gets, finishes the QSO and returns to calling CQ all without your input. On the other side of things, Hunter mode listens for CQ calls and pounces on them, finishing a QSO then returning to the live band to find the next. Or, take control of the conversation yourself with standard mode. That's the experience you're already used to from WSJT-X and other digital mode apps. Some other noteworthy features are: - Intelligent automatic free frequency selection - Dynamically adjusted audio delay for virtually drift-free message timing - PSK Reporter integrated Live Spots - Direct-to-QRZ, WRL and private Cloudlog logging and ADI export - Configurable waterfall settings - CQ addendums - CQ filtering for contesting and general courteous operation - Configurable retransmissions - Intelligent log recovery (didn't get that last 73 but want to log the contact anyway? Now you can!) - Log import and export - Antenna tuning - POTA Autospotting - One touch POTA activation and POTA.app-compatible ADIF export - Multiple POTA activation support - And so much more! Greyline uses audio VOX and not serial PTT. Most radios support this with simple cabling or an audio interface like a Digirig. For helpful tips on cabling and configuring popular radios, visit the Support URL below. Built by a ham, for hams, I'm very open to your feedback and hope Greyline can be your field companion. Want to share your own Field Notes (https://greylineft8.com/fieldnotes.html)? Email me at support@greylineft8.com!

Screenshots

FT8 Decoder1 screens
Greyline FT84 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Greyline FT8 at 90% against FT8 Decoder's 50%. Greyline FT8 also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 18 months). FT8 Decoder's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $3.99) and iOS requirement (15.4 vs 26.5). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Greyline FT8 $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Greyline FT8 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of FT8 Decoder's written reviews are positive against 90% of Greyline FT8's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FT8 Decoder ships an update every 18 months, Greyline FT8 every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
FT8 Decoder versus Greyline FT8: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFT8 DecoderGreyline FT8
Price$1.99 — better$3.99
Rating4.3 (8 ratings)4.8 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews90.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings812 — better
Update frequencyEvery 18 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#145 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.4 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHotPaw ProductionsJONATHAN MARK SCHULMAN

Customer experience

FT8 Decoder

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

Greyline FT8

All ratings12 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

FT8 Decoder

No in-app purchases

None

Greyline FT8

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FT8 Decoder free?
FT8 Decoder costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Greyline FT8 free?
Greyline FT8 costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FT8 Decoder or Greyline FT8?
Greyline FT8 is rated higher. FT8 Decoder averages 4.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Greyline FT8 averages 4.8 from 12 ratings.
Do FT8 Decoder or Greyline FT8 have ads?
Neither FT8 Decoder nor Greyline FT8 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FT8 Decoder or Greyline FT8?
FT8 Decoder ships an update every 18 months, and Greyline FT8 every 4 days. Most recently, FT8 Decoder was updated on September 21, 2026 and Greyline FT8 on October 3, 2026.

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