Comparison

RepeaterPhone vs SDR

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

Head to head
About

RepeaterPhone

Connect your mobile device to EchoLink or AllStarLink radio nodes, repeaters, and conferences. Features a push-to-talk interface, node directory search, and favorites for quick access. Supports Bluetooth headsets and includes a watch extension for convenient control.

Highlights
  • Push-to-talk interface
  • EchoLink/AllStarLink node connection
  • Node directory search
  • Favorite nodes
  • Bluetooth headset support
  • Watch extension control
Features
Read full description

Note: This app is for licensed Amateur Radio operators only. RepeaterPhone provides the ability to connect your mobile device to EchoLink or AllStarLink nodes, including repeaters and conferences. Push to talk today! You will need an account with either the EchoLink or AllStarLink networks. Please see https://www.echolink.org or https://www.allstarlink.org, respectively, for more details - Push-to-talk interface - Browse or search the directory for available nodes - Mark favorites with a star for quick access - Supports various audio devices, including Bluetooth headsets - Fully integrated into your phone's recent call system - Includes a watch extension for dialing favorites and controlling push-to-talk - Sharing your device with a licensed family member? Switch accounts easily

About

SDR

Control your Icom transceiver remotely or locally from your iPhone. Operate in all modes, log QSOs, and utilize integrated digital modes like FT8/FT4 and SSTV. No extra hardware is needed for global access.

Highlights
  • Remote transceiver operation
  • All mode control
  • Auto logging logbook
  • Integrated FT8/FT4 tool
  • Integrated SSTV receiver
  • Integrated CW decoder and keyer
  • DX-Cluster integration
Read full description

Your Icom radio on your iPhone: at home over Wi-Fi or from anywhere over the internet. Made by a ham, for hams, with personal support included. SDR-Control Mobile shows the spectrum scope and waterfall of your Icom radio with all its controls. 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 iPhone as microphone and speaker; the radio keeps playing in the background ■ Ready for iPhone Duo: the iPhone screens when folded, the large radio screen when open 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, WSPR and D-Star FT8-Improved, JS8, Speech and WSPR need iOS 26. TOOLS ■ Logbook with ADIF import and export, shared via iCloud with SmartSDR, FT-Control, TS-Control and K4-Control, on iPhone, iPad and Mac ■ DX Cluster, POTA, PSK Reporter, Call Lookup, Band Plan, Network Stats, Memories, Scanning ■ 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 iPhone with iOS 18 or later ■ For use over the internet: access to your home network from outside (see the manual) Manual: https://go-to.me/sdrcontrol-mobile-manual More apps: https://ham-radio-apps.com

Screenshots

RepeaterPhone4 screens
SDR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RepeaterPhone at $7.99 against SDR's $44.99. RepeaterPhone also leads on device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). SDR's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (84% vs 71%). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

RepeaterPhone costs $7.99 and SDR $44.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SDR holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 89 and 67 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of RepeaterPhone's written reviews are positive against 84% of SDR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RepeaterPhone ships an update every 2 months, SDR every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
RepeaterPhone versus SDR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRepeaterPhoneSDR
Price$7.99 — better$44.99
Rating4.4 (89 ratings)4.6 (67 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.2% of reviews84.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings89 — better67
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWeston BustraanMarcus Roskosch

Customer experience

RepeaterPhone

All ratings88 ratings
Positive84.1%
Neutral4.5%
Negative11.4%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive71.2%
Neutral10.2%
Negative18.6%

SDR

All ratings67 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.4%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive84.3%
Neutral5.7%
Negative10.0%

User reviews

RepeaterPhone

From 89 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Excellent audio quality
  • 👍 Works well for Allstar and EchoLink
  • 👍 Great for travel/remote access
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use interface
  • 👍 Good value for the price

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes
  • 🐛 Volume too low/audio issues
  • 🐛 Connection issues with some nodes/networks
  • 🐛 App closes when screen locks/in background
  • 🐛 Authentication/login failures

SDR

From 67 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Works perfectly with ICOM radios
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 🌟 Feature-rich and comprehensive
  • 💯 Stable and reliable performance
  • 📱 Great for remote operation

Room to improve

  • 🐛 FT8 decoding issues (lower signal levels)
  • 🐛 Dialogs do not scale with larger text setting
  • 🐛 UI elements can be cramped on iPhone
  • 🐛 Some buttons are small and hard to press
  • 🐛 Frequency display overlaps buttons

Bugs and requests

RepeaterPhone

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • Authentication failed on setup
  • App crashes with latest iOS
  • iPhone 16 Pro will not connect
  • Many Allstar nodes reject connection attempts
  • Crashes sometimes, interrupting calls
Show 13 more
  • Failed to load list of stations
  • Randomly disconnects
  • Hubs error out with 'Rejected: No authority found'
  • Crashes under iOS 17.6
  • App doesn’t work on Echolink
  • Connection closes when screen locks
  • Receive volume very low after iOS 16
  • Audio seems less than fully baked, low volume
  • Trying to change speakers mutes app
  • Private nodes stay keyed after unkeying
  • App reads 'Account not found'
  • Callsign beginning with a number times out at 45secs
  • Supermon stops reporting during local private node connection

Requested features

14 requests
  • DTMF presets on dial page
  • Apple CarPlay integration
  • CQ function inclusion
  • Organize nodes by location/group chat
  • See total people connected before connecting
Show 9 more
  • Search for nodes by location
  • More sorting for repeater list
  • Last heard map/list
  • Listen-only mode
  • Dialer for Allstar codes (*72 etc.)
  • Android app with PTT
  • Macros to hound and disconnect nodes
  • Map of AllStar node location
  • Adjustable mic level slider

SDR

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Dialogs do not scale with larger text setting
  • Frequency display overlaps buttons
  • FT8 decoding issues (lower signal levels than WSJTX)
  • App crashes and leaves radio in transmit
  • Logbook export not functional after update
Show 7 more
  • Function button for horizontal scrolling not fully displayed
  • FT8 decode is useless and unreliable
  • Messed up radio, requiring reset
  • RX audio unusable outside home network (prior to 1.5.1)
  • Struggles with audio RX packets on remote cellular networks
  • Cannot work over mobile data with certain carriers (EE)
  • FT8 alerts sound but don't display

Requested features

14 requests
  • Develop for IC-7800
  • CarPlay support
  • Apple Watch add-on
  • Windows version
  • JS8call support
Show 9 more
  • More digital modes
  • Display memory bank names
  • Initiate memory scan from app
  • WSPR implementation
  • Tool for WSPR
  • More FT8/FT4 features (e.g., setting transmit frequency directly in FT8 view)
  • Send image to unit
  • KISS TNC support
  • Control digital modes (reflectors, etc.)

In-app purchases

None

RepeaterPhone

No in-app purchases

None

SDR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RepeaterPhone free?
RepeaterPhone costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SDR free?
SDR costs $44.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RepeaterPhone or SDR?
SDR is rated higher. RepeaterPhone averages 4.4 out of 5 from 89 ratings, while SDR averages 4.6 from 67 ratings.
Do RepeaterPhone or SDR have ads?
Neither RepeaterPhone nor SDR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RepeaterPhone or SDR?
RepeaterPhone ships an update every 2 months, and SDR every 2 weeks. Most recently, RepeaterPhone was updated on October 25, 2026 and SDR on October 25, 2026.

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