Comparison

SDR vs SmartMTR for FlexRadio

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

Head to head
About

SDR

Control your Icom radio remotely from your iPad, whether at home via Wi-Fi or anywhere over the internet. View spectrum scope, waterfall, and access all radio controls, including microphone and speaker functionality. Supports various Icom models and offers multiple communication modes.

Highlights
  • Remote Wi-Fi and internet control
  • Spectrum scope and waterfall display
  • Full radio control interface
  • iPad as microphone and speaker
  • Multiple communication modes (FT8, JS8, CW, Speech)
  • Integrated logbook with iCloud sync
  • DX Cluster and band plan integration
Features
Read full description

Your Icom radio on your iPad: at home over Wi-Fi or from anywhere over the internet. Made by a ham, for hams, with personal support included. SDR-Control shows the spectrum scope and waterfall of your Icom radio with all its controls on the large iPad screen. No extra hardware or software needed. WORKS WITH ■ IC-705 (Wi-Fi) ■ IC-7610, IC-7760, IC-9700, IC-7300 MK2 and the IC-R8600 receiver (radio on your network by cable) The app connects over the network only. The older IC-7300 (without MK2) has no network connection and can't be used. OPERATE ■ Spectrum scope and waterfall with band plan, DX Cluster and FT8 spots ■ Two VFOs, filters, preamp, attenuator, NB, NR, notch, AGC and more ■ Compact floating panels: tuning, PTT, CW, memories, macros, Command Bar, DTMF, RIT / ∆TX, D-Star ■ Your iPad as microphone and speaker; the radio keeps playing in the background, also with the cover closed MODES ■ FT8-Improved with AutoAnswer and AutoCQ, plus the classic FT8 ■ JS8 keyboard chat ■ CW with decoder, keyer and CW keyboard ■ Speech: incoming voice transcribed and translated, your typed text sent as speech ■ SSTV, HF-Fax, APRS and WSPR FT8-Improved, JS8, Speech and WSPR need iPadOS 26. TOOLS ■ Logbook with ADIF import and export, shared via iCloud with SmartSDR, FT-Control, TS-Control and K4-Control, on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro ■ DX Cluster, POTA, PSK Reporter, Call Lookup, Band Plan, Network Stats, Memories, Scanning, S.A.T. ■ Controllers: MIDI, CTR2, HaliKey, Pryme, Flic ■ 4O3A Genius devices and Ultra Beam antennas MADE BY A HAM Made by Marcus, DL8MRE, who has been developing apps for Apple devices since 2009 and uses this app every day in his own shack, where all supported radios are on the desk. Personal online support and a detailed manual are included. Updates with new modes and features are free: no subscription, no in-app purchases. WHAT YOU NEED ■ One of the radios above, connected to your network ■ An iPad with iPadOS 18 or later ■ For use over the internet: access to your home network from outside (see the manual) Manual: https://go-to.me/sdrcontrol-ios-manual More apps: https://ham-radio-apps.com SDR-Control is developed independently and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Icom.

About

SmartMTR for FlexRadio

Transform your iOS device into a precise S-meter and control panel for FlexRadio transceivers. Monitor signal levels, adjust DSP filters, and control radio functions with intuitive gestures. Includes a demo mode for exploration.

Highlights
  • Precision S-meter with arc-band indicator
  • Dual-slice display for simultaneous monitoring
  • TX meters for RF Power, SWR, and Compression
  • Intuitive swipe gestures for radio control
  • Comprehensive DSP filter adjustments
  • Demo mode for exploration
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a precision S-meter and control panel for your FlexRadio 6000 or 8000 series transceiver. SmartMTR connects to your radio over the local network and displays real-time signal levels on a sweeping arc indicator with smooth ballistic animation. Monitor two slices at once, control your radio with intuitive swipe gestures, and fine-tune DSP filters — all from your iOS device. PRECISION S-METER - Arc-band indicator with realistic ballistics — fast attack, slow decay - Dual-slice display: Slice A and Slice B shown simultaneously - S1 to S9+60 dB scale with accurate dBm readout - Signal extremes tracking with adjustable time window - 30-second signal history chart TX METERS - RF Power gauge (120W or 600W scale) - SWR meter - Compression meter - Mic level meter RADIO CONTROL - Tune frequency with swipe gestures — MHz, kHz, and Hz - Switch modes: CW, LSB, USB, AM, FM, NFM - Select RX and TX antennas - Adjust RX filter width - Band stacking with per-slice memory DSP FILTERS - Squelch and volume control - AGC mode and threshold - Noise blankers: NB, WNB - Noise reduction: NR, NRL, NRS, NRF, RNN - Notch filters: ANF, ANFL, ANFT WORKS WITH - FlexRadio 6000 or 8000 series Requires a FlexRadio transceiver on the same local network. Try the built-in demo mode to explore the app without a radio. Terms of Use: https://smartmtr.net/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://smartmtr.net/privacy-policy.html

Screenshots

SmartMTR for FlexRadio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SmartMTR for FlexRadio at Free against SDR's $49.99. SmartMTR for FlexRadio also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 78%) and device support (3 vs 1). SDR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (78 vs 1). On ads 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

SmartMTR for FlexRadio is free to download; SDR costs $49.99 up front. SmartMTR for FlexRadio sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. SDR asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SDR holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SDR has 78 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 78% of SDR's written reviews are positive against 100% of SmartMTR for FlexRadio's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SDR ships an update every 2 weeks, SmartMTR for FlexRadio every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
SDR versus SmartMTR for FlexRadio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSDRSmartMTR for FlexRadio
Price$49.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (78 ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews78.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings78 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarcus RoskoschDariusz Socha

Customer experience

SDR

All ratings70 ratings
Positive78.6%
Neutral2.9%
Negative18.6%
Written reviews82 reviews
Positive78.0%
Neutral3.7%
Negative18.3%

SmartMTR for FlexRadio

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SDR

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

SmartMTR for FlexRadio

Subscriptions1
  • SmartMTR7 Days trial$2.991 Month

Questions

Is SDR free?
SDR costs $49.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SmartMTR for FlexRadio free?
SmartMTR for FlexRadio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SDR or SmartMTR for FlexRadio?
SDR is rated higher. SDR averages 4.3 out of 5 from 78 ratings, while SmartMTR for FlexRadio averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SDR or SmartMTR for FlexRadio have ads?
Neither SDR nor SmartMTR for FlexRadio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SDR or SmartMTR for FlexRadio?
SDR ships an update every 2 weeks, and SmartMTR for FlexRadio every 5 weeks. Most recently, SDR was updated on November 7, 2026 and SmartMTR for FlexRadio on October 31, 2026.

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