Comparison

HAM vs HamWatch

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

Head to head
About

HAM

This utility app offers a comprehensive suite of tools for amateur radio operators, including band conditions, DX-Cluster monitoring, and a logbook. It features direct radio integration for tuning and automatic logging, along with various calculations and resource information.

Highlights
  • DX-Cluster and PSK-Reporter activity monitoring
  • Bandplan, Glossar, and AWG resource information
  • Built-in radio integration for direct tuning
  • Fully featured logbook with QSO editing
  • LOTW and QRZ.com log submission
  • Calculations for Ohm's law, VSWR, and antennas
  • CW Encoder and Decoder
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The ultimate utility App for every HAM-Radio Operator HAM-Toolbox provides a variety of useful Tools to help you operating your HAM-Radio. The Tools are ranging from activity monitoring Tools like DX-Cluster and PSK-Reporter, to Tools helping you with resource information like Bandplan, Glossar, AWG and many more Tools. HAM-Toolbox also has a built-in radio integration, so that you can directly tune to spots from the DX-Cluster and other tools. During logging, the appropriate fields for the frequency and mode will be automatically filled. With a one-time purchase you gain access to all of the following Tools on your iPhone, iPad and Mac. · TOOLS: + Band Conditions + POTA + DX-Cluster + PSK-Reporter + Reverse Beacon Network + Call-Lookup + Locator + Beacons (especially NCDXF) + Repeater + DTMF Generator + CW Encoder and Decoder + Frequency List + QSL Card Designer (design, preview, print and export your own QSL cards) · LOGBOOK: HAM-Toolbox comes with a fully featured Logbook. + Inspect and edit your existing QSOs + Easy-to-use logging interface + Maintenance (Data completion from QRZ.com, Duplicates finder, Mass change) + LOTW and QRZ.com log submission + Integrated Call-Lookup with possibility to update QSO + Worked/Needed statistics for CQ-Zones, ITU-Zones and DXCCs + Map with worked grid locators representation + iCloud-Sync with multiple devices (compatible with SDR-Control and SmartSDR) · Radio-Integration: + Frequency and Mode + Logbook integration + Direct tuning from various Tools like DXCluster, POTA, Frequency List + Supports all major Brands and Radios via Network or USB + YAESU: FT-710, FT-991, FT-DX10, FT-DX100 + Icom: IC-705, IC-7300mk2, IC-7300, IC-7610, IC-7760, IC-9700, IC-R8600, + Kenwood: TS-890, TS-990 + Elecraft: K4 + HamLib · CALCULATIONS: + Ohm's law + VSWR + Dipole-Antenna + Groundplane-Antenna + HB9CV-Antenna + Helix-Antenna + dB Conversion + Wavelength · RESOURCES: + Bandplan + Glossar + Morse + AWG + CTCSS-Codes + Formulas + Q-Codes + Abbreviations + Constants Find out more here: https://ham-toolbox.com Read the Manual: https://go-to.me/hamtoolbox-manual

About

HamWatch

This app provides amateur radio operators with essential tools on their Apple Watch. Monitor real-time space weather data and track POTA spots directly from your wrist. Customizable complications display your call sign on your watch face.

Highlights
  • Real-time space weather monitoring
  • 24-hour historical space weather charts
  • POTA spot tracking on wrist
  • Customizable watch face complications
  • Seamless iPhone and Apple Watch sync
  • Configurable auto-refresh intervals
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Real-time ham radio data — on your Apple Watch. HamWatch gives field operators instant access to space weather, propagation conditions, and on-the-air spots, right from your wrist. SPACE WEATHER Live solar wind, Bz/Bt, and solar imagery from NOAA and NASA — including coronal hole monitoring and sunspot tracking. 24-hour charts included. SPOTS POTA, SOTA, and WWFF spots in real time. Filter by mode and band. Pull to refresh. Works on iPhone and Apple Watch. MAPS & TOOLS Azimuthal map centered on your GPS location shows true compass bearings to the world — aim your beam with confidence. WATCH FACE Complications for call sign, SFI, A-Index, and UTC. Choose which views appear on your watch from Settings → Configure Watch Views. The iPhone companion app adds larger charts and detailed data views. Everything syncs automatically between devices. https://www.hamwatch.app

Screenshots

HAM4 screens
HamWatch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HamWatch at $4.99 against HAM's $14.99. HamWatch also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (100% vs 69%). 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

HAM costs $14.99 and HamWatch $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HamWatch holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of HAM's written reviews are positive against 100% of HamWatch's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HAM ships an update monthly, HamWatch every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
HAM versus HamWatch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHAMHamWatch
Price$14.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.0 (7 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7 — better3
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#177 — better#199
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.616.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarcus RoskoschJames Krepelka

Customer experience

HAM

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive69.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative23.1%

HamWatch

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

HAM

No in-app purchases

None

HamWatch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HAM free?
HAM costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is HamWatch free?
HamWatch costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HAM or HamWatch?
HamWatch is rated higher. HAM averages 4.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while HamWatch averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do HAM or HamWatch have ads?
Neither HAM nor HamWatch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HAM or HamWatch?
HAM ships an update monthly, and HamWatch every 10 days. Most recently, HAM was updated on September 8, 2026 and HamWatch on September 13, 2026.
Which is more popular, HAM or HamWatch?
HAM currently peaks at #177 in the App Store charts, and HamWatch at #199. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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