# HAM Test Prep vs RST Decoder

The clearest difference is price: RST Decoder at Free against HAM Test Prep's $1.99. RST Decoder also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). HAM Test Prep's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (97% vs 67%). On rating and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

RST Decoder is free to download; HAM Test Prep costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for HAM Test Prep against 5.0 for RST Decoder. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HAM Test Prep has 575 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 97% of HAM Test Prep's written reviews are positive against 67% of RST Decoder's.

HAM Test Prep ships an update every 6 months, RST Decoder every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HAM Test Prep | RST Decoder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.9 (575 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ham-test-prep-general/id298756574/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rst-decoder/id1519587362/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **575** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **96.9% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#193** | — |
| Size | 3 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.5** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Patrick J Maloney LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/297951499) | [koji kamogawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/1488210713) |

## What reviewers say

### HAM Test Prep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ham-test-prep-general/id298756574)

**Currently charting:** #193 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

Prepare for your Amateur Radio General license exam with a comprehensive question pool and practice tests. Review FCC rules, track your proficiency, and customize your study sessions. Includes features for vision-impaired users and dark mode support.

**Highlights:** General question pool access, Practice exams, Proficiency tracking, Immediate feedback option, View FCC rule text, Zoomable figures, Accessibility options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent exam prep
- 👍 Very handy and easy to use
- 🎉 Helped pass exams on first try
- 📚 Great study guide and training aid
- 🏆 Effective way to learn and prepare

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔀 Randomize answers needed in practice tests
- 📊 Inconsistent progress tracking in study sections

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional app crashes or freezes
- Inconsistent behavior between iPhone and iPad versions

**Requested features**

- Add randomize answers option for practice tests
- Improve progress tracking and reset functionality in study sections


### RST Decoder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rst-decoder/id1519587362)

This application decodes Morse code from your microphone, acting as a practice tool to verify your keying accuracy. It offers advanced features like BPF and FFT decoders with automatic frequency and gain control, allowing for fine-tuning of reception parameters.

**Highlights:** Microphone Morse code decoding, Morse practice and keying check, BPF and FFT decoder options, Auto Frequency Detector (AFD), Auto Gain Control (AGC), Real-time CW signal display, Input signal recording/playback

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HAM Test Prep free?

HAM Test Prep costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is RST Decoder free?

RST Decoder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HAM Test Prep or RST Decoder?

RST Decoder is rated higher. HAM Test Prep averages 4.9 out of 5 from 575 ratings, while RST Decoder averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do HAM Test Prep or RST Decoder have ads?

RST Decoder shows ads; HAM Test Prep does not.

### Which is updated more often, HAM Test Prep or RST Decoder?

HAM Test Prep ships an update every 6 months, and RST Decoder every 2 months. Most recently, HAM Test Prep was updated on October 20, 2026 and RST Decoder on October 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*