HAM vs ResQMesh
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
ResQMesh
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ResQMesh keeps a team in touch where there is no mobile coverage. The iPhone connects over Bluetooth to a small LoRa radio board, and the boards pass messages, positions and ALERTs to one another, forming a mesh network with no network, no SIM and no Internet. IN AN EMERGENCY, CALL 112 FIRST Or the emergency number of your country. ResQMesh supports communication; it is not an emergency service and must not be the only way to ask for help. Messages, positions and ALERTs depend on the terrain, on batteries and on other boards switched on and within range: delivery is not guaranteed. THE ALERT Hold the ALERT button for three seconds: your position goes to every board of the network, and your board repeats it until another one confirms it. You see who confirmed, and the others see where you are, with distance and direction. The ALERT is always free: you can send it, receive it and confirm it without a licence. It also starts from the Action button, from Shortcuts and from the Apple Watch. FREE, NO LICENCE - The ALERT, sent, received and confirmed - APRS on 433 MHz: beacons, APRS conversations in the Chat tab and the stations your board hears, also on the map WITH THE ANNUAL LICENCE - Channels and private chats, with delivery confirmation and ready replies - Encryption on 868 MHz: network key and private messages encrypted by the app - The team on the map and in the network list, with how each board was heard - The network profile as a QR code: the whole team with the same radio settings, channels and network key in a few seconds - The channel check, to pick a free frequency before you go out - The LoRa APRS stations around you from the Internet - Apple Watch, CarPlay and Siri: read and send messages, follow an ALERT ENCRYPTION AND PROTECTION The capomaglia creates a network key and shares it with the network profile: on 868 MHz the boards encrypt channels, private messages and positions, and boards without the key cannot read them. Private messages can also be encrypted by the app for the operator they are written to, and the capomaglia approves, removes and readmits the operators of the network. ALERTs and Emergency-Net always stay in clear, so that anyone within range can read them. On 433 MHz encryption is not allowed and everything travels in clear. Every board is protected by a Bluetooth PIN: your iPhone keeps it and gives it at every connection, other phones need it to connect. MADE FOR THE FIELD - Works with the phone locked: notifications, Live Activity on the lock screen and in the Dynamic Island - Widgets for the board, active ALERTs and unread messages - History synced with iCloud across your devices, with private messages kept encrypted - The manual is inside the app and reads without a network - English and Italian, following the language of your iPhone - Try it without a board: the demo board shows the whole app with simulated traffic THE BOARDS ResQMesh works on Heltec Wireless Tracker, LilyGO T-Deck Plus, LilyGO T-Echo Plus, SenseCAP T1000-E, Elecrow ThinkNode M1 and M5Stack Cardputer ADV boards with the ResQMesh firmware, free on railab.com. On 433 MHz an amateur radio licence is required; on 868 MHz no radio licence is needed. ResQMesh is made by Railab Srl, Brescia, Italy. Licence: the annual subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. You can manage or cancel it in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ ResQMesh terms: https://www.railab.com/legal/resqmesh-terms.html Privacy policy: https://www.railab.com/legal/resqmesh.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: ResQMesh at Free against HAM's $14.99. ResQMesh also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly). HAM's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
ResQMesh is free to download; HAM costs $14.99 up front. ResQMesh sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $8.99 per year. HAM asks for nothing beyond the download.
HAM ships an update monthly, ResQMesh every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HAM | ResQMesh |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.0 (7 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 69.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 83 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Marcus Roskosch | Railab |
In-app purchases
HAM
No in-app purchases
ResQMesh
- ResQMesh licence, one year$8.991 Year









