Comparison

HotPaw Basic vs ShackPilot

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

Head to head
About

HotPaw Basic

Experience retro computing by typing and running Basic programs on your iPhone or iPad. This app functions as a programmable calculator and can display simple line graphics, Morse code audio, and perform FFT analysis.

Highlights
  • Retro text-mode Basic interpreter
  • Programmable calculator functionality
  • Simple line graphics display
  • Morse Code audio output
  • FFT analysis
  • GPS location support
  • MQTT and BTLE communications
Features
Read full description

Calling all early-personal-computing fans, remember typing Basic programs into your home computer? HotPaw Basic recreates the retro-experience of a text-mode Basic interpreter, and it runs right on your iPhone or iPad. You can also use HotPaw Basic as a programmable calculator, or for displaying simple line graphics. The HotPaw Basic interpreter supports the minimal Basic language, including: Commands: let if then else endif dim data read restore for to step next while wend goto gosub return ? print input open close end stop mat run new list del save load dir cls rem Functions: int() abs() sgn() rnd() sqr() exp() log() log10() sin() cos() tan() atn() len() val() asc() str$() chr$() hex$() mid$() timer() date$ time$ pi Operators: + - * / mod ^ = and or xor not Also includes new command and functions to support line graphics, Morse Code audio, FFT analysis, GPS location, MQTT and BTLE communications. Line numbers are required. Type in the text of your program and type "run" to run them. See: http://www.hotpaw.com/rhn/basic/iphone/ for a more complete description of the Basic language syntax, commands and functions which this Basic interpreter supports.

About

ShackPilot

Control your Yaesu ham radio remotely from your iPhone or iPad. Stream live audio, manage CAT functions, and utilize built-in digital modes like FT8 and FT4. Operate your station from anywhere without extra hardware.

Highlights
  • Wireless remote head for Yaesu transceivers
  • Live audio streaming
  • Full CAT control
  • Real-time waterfall display
  • Built-in FT8 & FT4 digital modes
  • ADIF export and direct logbook upload
Features
Read full description

Your shack, in your pocket. ShackPilot turns your iPhone or iPad into a wireless remote head for your Yaesu transceiver. Live audio, full CAT control, a real-time waterfall, and eight digital modes that receive and transmit. No network adapters, no Windows software, no extra hardware. Run ShackPilot on the Mac that's connected to your radio via USB, then operate from anywhere: check into your favorite net from the couch, work FT8 from the backyard, send an SSTV picture from the kitchen table, or chase DX from the other side of the world over VPN. SUPPORTED RADIOS - Yaesu, driven directly with no extra software. Fully supported: FT-710 (full CAT + wideband scope), FT-991A. Partial support: FTDX10, FTDX101D, FTDX101MP, FTX-1 - Hundreds more through hamlib: Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, Elecraft, FlexRadio, Xiegu, Ten-Tec, Alinco and many others. Run the free rigctld alongside ShackPilot and that radio gets the same frequency, mode, VFO, split, PTT, level and meter control a Yaesu gets, plus its antenna tuner and, where the rig can report them, its memory channels. ShackPilot asks your rig what it can do and shows only the controls it really has. A guided setup screen writes the rigctld command for you, and it can run on this Mac or on a Raspberry Pi in the shack. - Generic mode: any radio with an audio interface, with optional serial PTT. Every digital mode still transmits, CW included - More radios are on the way REMOTE CONTROL THAT FEELS LOCAL - Full CAT control: frequency, mode, VFO, split, TX power, filters, DSP - Low-latency RX and TX audio streaming with Opus compression - Live S-meter, power, SWR, and ALC readings - On-screen PTT with haptic feedback - Zero configuration: ShackPilot finds your shack Mac automatically on WiFi - Away from home? Connect over the free, secure VPN of your choice WATERFALL & SPECTRUM - Real-time audio-band waterfall with tap-to-tune, on every supported radio - Wideband spectrum scope on the FT-710 only - Customizable color maps DIGITAL MODES BUILT IN Eight modes, all of which receive and transmit. No external software. - FT8 & FT4: full QSO support with auto-sequencing, CQ calling, and auto-logging - JS8: keyboard-to-keyboard messaging on weak signals, with a heard-station list, CQ and heartbeat calling, and optional automation that answers SNR?, GRID?, INFO? and STATUS? on its own - CW: Morse decoded as scrolling text. Send with the radio's keyer, or as a generated tone with adjustable speed, pitch, and Farnsworth spacing - RTTY: automatic mark, space, and baud-rate detection on receive. Send at 45.45, 50, or 75 baud - Olivia: automatic configuration detection on receive. Send at any of the five standard presets - SSTV: receive with auto mode detection and a live progress view. Send a picture in any of 18 modes from Robot 8 to PD-290, cropped and scaled for you - Packet: AX.25, FX.25, and IL2P for VHF APRS and HF packet. Send as AFSK, or through a networked KISS TNC such as Direwolf QSO LOGGING - Built-in log with ADIF export - Direct upload to QRZ Logbook and Cloudlog - WSJT-X UDP broadcast for your favorite logging software HOW IT WORKS ShackPilot is one app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Install it on the Mac in your shack and connect your radio over USB. The Mac acts as the server. Your iPhone and iPad connect to it over WiFi or VPN. One subscription covers all your devices. Try everything free for 2 weeks. After the trial, ShackPilot is a simple monthly subscription which you can cancel anytime. Subscriptions fund ongoing development: new radios, new modes, and new features. Requires ShackPilot running on a Mac (macOS 15+) connected to your transceiver via USB. 73, and see you on the bands! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

HotPaw Basic1 screens
ShackPilot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ShackPilot at 100% against HotPaw Basic's 52%. ShackPilot also leads on price (Free vs $4.99) and rating (5.0 vs 3.9). HotPaw Basic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). On ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

ShackPilot is free to download; HotPaw Basic costs $4.99 up front. ShackPilot sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. HotPaw Basic asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ShackPilot holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HotPaw Basic has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of HotPaw Basic's written reviews are positive against 100% of ShackPilot's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HotPaw Basic ships an update every 5 months, ShackPilot weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
HotPaw Basic versus ShackPilot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHotPaw BasicShackPilot
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (7 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.3 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHotPaw ProductionsLukasz Skierkowski

Customer experience

HotPaw Basic

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive52.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative33.3%

ShackPilot

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

HotPaw Basic

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

ShackPilot

Subscriptions1
  • ShackPilot Monthly14 Days trial$4.991 Month
One-time1
  • ShackPilot Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is HotPaw Basic free?
HotPaw Basic costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ShackPilot free?
ShackPilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, HotPaw Basic or ShackPilot?
ShackPilot is rated higher. HotPaw Basic averages 3.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while ShackPilot averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do HotPaw Basic or ShackPilot have ads?
Neither HotPaw Basic nor ShackPilot shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HotPaw Basic or ShackPilot?
HotPaw Basic ships an update every 5 months, and ShackPilot weekly. Most recently, HotPaw Basic was updated on October 4, 2026 and ShackPilot on October 6, 2026.

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