RepeaterPhone vs RagChew
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Push-to-talk interface
- EchoLink/AllStarLink node connection
- Node directory search
- Favorite nodes
- Bluetooth headset support
- Watch extension control
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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
RagChew
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RagChew is a companion app for amateur radio operators who want to follow nets without being at their radio. It connects to NetLogger and shows you what's happening on active nets in real time. EchoLink (Still in Beta and may be buggy): RagChew now includes EchoLink support. You can listen to nets over EchoLink audio directly in the app and transmit using the built-in push-to-talk button. A live audio level bar and connection quality indicator keep you informed while you're connected. Node descriptions are available to help you identify links and repeaters. Notifications: RagChew can send you push notifications so you don't have to keep the app open to stay informed. You can receive alerts when a net you've favorited goes active, when a favorited station checks into any net, and for other activity you choose to follow. Notifications are configurable so you only hear about what's relevant to you. Check-ins: The full check-in roster is displayed as operators join, including callsign, name, and status. You can see who is currently operating, who is mobile, and who has checked out. Tapping a check-in expands additional details and provides a link to the operator's QRZ profile. Net chat: If you monitor a net, you can read and send messages in the net's chat. The full message history is available, and you can react to individual messages. NetLogger-style text formatting is supported. Map: Check-ins are plotted on a map based on their logged positions, giving you a geographic view of who is participating in the net. Favorites and monitors: You can favorite nets and individual callsigns to track activity that matters to you. You can also see which other operators are currently monitoring any given net. Net history: Recently closed nets are available to browse, including their full check-in rosters and session information. Groups: Nets can be browsed by club or group, with group descriptions and associated net listings. iPad and landscape layouts: On iPad, the net detail screen uses a split layout that displays net information, the station map, check-ins, and chat simultaneously. On iPhone, a landscape layout presents check-ins and chat side by side. Both portrait and landscape orientations are supported on all devices. Account: Sign in with your existing NetLogger credentials. No separate account is required. Favorites, monitors, and chat require a login; active net listings and basic check-in information are available without one. The app supports light, dark, and automatic appearance modes and is available on iPhone and iPad.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: RagChew at $4.99 against RepeaterPhone's $7.99. RepeaterPhone's advantage is chart position (#111 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
RepeaterPhone costs $7.99 and RagChew $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
RepeaterPhone ships an update every 2 months, RagChew every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RepeaterPhone | RagChew |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 | $4.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.4 (89 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 71.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 89 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | #111 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Weston Bustraan | Tim Morgan |
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
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- 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 moreShow fewer
- 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
RagChew
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
RepeaterPhone
No in-app purchases
RagChew
No in-app purchases









