HotPaw Basic vs HAM QuickLog
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
HAM QuickLog
This app offers rapid logging for amateur radio operators, featuring customizable templates and offline tools. It allows for direct logging on mobile devices, eliminating the need for later transcription, and can generate printable PDF logs.
- Lightning-fast contact logging
- Purpose-built logging templates
- Offline utility tools
- Home screen widget
- PDF log creation
- ADIF import/export
- One-tap callsign lookup
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Log contacts in seconds, not minutes. HAM QuickLog is the complete HAM radio app combining lightning-fast logging with 11 built-in tools, perfect for casual operators, POTA activators, contesters and SWLs. Why operators choose HAM QuickLog: * Purpose-built templates: HF, SWL, Contest, POTA, minimal and Full templates show only the fields you need * Lightning-fast entry: Auto-fill some fields, field copying, and smart defaults minimize typing * Works anywhere: Includes several online and 6 fully offline tools (Grid Calculator, Azimuth Calculator, Q-Codes, UTC Clock, ITU Prefixes, My Grid & Location) * Zero paper in the field: Log directly on your iPhone or iPad, no transcribing later Home Screen Widget: See your latest QSOs and log stats at a glance — right from your Home Screen. No need to open the app. PDF creation: Generate a clean, printable PDF of your log. Print it directly from the app or share it — perfect for club submissions, personal archives or Field Day documentation. Built-in HAM Tools: * DX Cluster * Contest Calendar * Grid & Azimuth Calculators * QRZ & HamQTH Browsers * SOTA Cluster * Q-Codes Reference * ITU Callsign Prefixes * UTC Clock * And more Professional features: * Full ADIF import/export * Automatic duplicate checking (Contest mode) * One-tap callsign lookup (QRZ & HamQTH) * Dedicated SWL template * Works on iPhone and iPad Perfect for: * Quick portable logging on iPhone or iPad * POTA activators logging from parks * Contest operators needing speed * Field Day operations * SWLs tracking what they hear * Home station everyday logging Whether you're activating a park, working a contest, or enjoying casual QSOs, HAM QuickLog keeps you on the air - not buried in paperwork.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: HAM QuickLog at 5.0 against HotPaw Basic's 3.9. HAM QuickLog also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 52%) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months). HotPaw Basic's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.3 vs 15.0). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
HotPaw Basic costs $4.99 and HAM QuickLog $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HAM QuickLog 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 92% of HAM QuickLog's.
HotPaw Basic ships an update every 5 months, HAM QuickLog every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HotPaw Basic | HAM QuickLog |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (7 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | 91.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.3 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HotPaw Productions | Mircules |
Customer experience
HotPaw Basic
HAM QuickLog
In-app purchases
HotPaw Basic
No in-app purchases
HAM QuickLog
No in-app purchases









