Comparison

HAM Test Prep vs HamTester Extra

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

Head to head
About

HAM Test Prep

Prepare for your Amateur Radio Extra license exam with a comprehensive question pool and practice tests. Review FCC rules, get immediate feedback, and track your proficiency across question groups. Features include accessibility options and customizable test settings.

Highlights
  • Extra Question Pool (effective July 1, 2024)
  • Practice Exams
  • Proficiency Tracking
  • Immediate Feedback
  • View FCC Rule Text
  • Zoomable Figures
  • Accessibility Options
Features
Currently charting
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Includes the Extra Question Pool effective July 1, 2024! Not sure if you want to buy? Try out the "Lite" version of this app! Upgrade your HAM license from General to Amateur Extra! With the elimination of the Morse Code requirement, there is no reason not to upgrade your license to the highest level to obtain all privileges! Amateur Radio License exams are composed of questions from a pool. Use this application prior to taking your exam to review and practice all possible questions. Then, test your knowledge with practice exams! After completing your first practice exam, the question pool screen will display your proficiency in each question group for all practice exams you have completed. You may choose to receive immediate feedback on right and wrong answers when taking a practice test. On practice tests, questions in a group will not be repeated until all of them have been used. Some questions require you to review associated Figures. These figures may be zoomed and panned on iPhone/iPod touch. FCC rule text is viewable within the application. All sections can be browsed from the main screen. Additionally, for questions where rule sections have been identified, the rule text can be viewed on the question screen when studying the question pool or reviewing test results. An in-progress practice test can be resumed if you exit the test or the application. Current Extra question pool is valid through June 30, 2028. Versions of this application for both the Technician and General license classes are also available. This app has these additional features: • Accessibility option for vision-impaired users to exclude questions with figures • Dark mode support • Portrait and Landscape support on iPad • Swipe gestures to navigate between questions • Tap on answer to select it • Double-tap or use pinch gesture to zoom Figures on iPhone and iPod touch • Buttons to skip to next/previous wrong answer in test results • ARRL question number displayed on practice tests • Configurable Test Settings • Optional randomizing of test answers • Optional auto-advance during test

About

HamTester Extra

Features
Currently charting
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This application will generate unlimited examinations for you to take to prepare you for your actual testing session. "It is important to realize that to prepare someone to take an exam, you need to do more than just present a question pool. It is more than just questions/answers, statistics etc. It requires a mental preparation also. I created the HamTester series Technician, General and Extra to be as close to a real FCC exam session as I could, to prepare the student for more than just a list of questions." - Gene Backlin And Gene should know. Since 2000, Gene has been a Volunteer Examiner(VE) and has presided over 150 examination sessions. He has seen what it takes to pass, as well as mentored and encouraged/tutored those who have not. "It is a great hobby, and if I have been able in any way to help you achieve your ham ticket, I am thankful for your trust in my application" - Gene Backlin Features include: - Unlimited Examination Generation. - Complete Extra Class Question Pool included for immediate study. - Immediate grading of exam upon completion. - Feedback of questions that are errant, including multiple display of incorrect answer chosen as well as correct answer expected.

Screenshots

HAM Test Prep4 screens
HamTester Extra4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HamTester Extra at $0.99 against HAM Test Prep's $2.99. HamTester Extra also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.5). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and chart position 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

HAM Test Prep costs $2.99 and HamTester Extra $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HAM Test Prep ships an update every 4 months, HamTester Extra every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
HAM Test Prep versus HamTester Extra: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHAM Test PrepHamTester Extra
Price$2.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.9 (312 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews97.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings312 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#164 — better#196
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.510.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPatrick J Maloney LLCGene Backlin

Bugs and requests

HAM Test Prep

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes almost every time a menu item is selected
  • Cannot reset review question selection
  • Crashes during long study or test sessions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Bookmark or 'where I left off' feature for resuming sessions
  • Ability to reset review question selection
  • Option to randomize answer order in practice question pools
  • Non-randomized practice mode alongside randomized tests

HamTester Extra

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

HAM Test Prep

No in-app purchases

None

HamTester Extra

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HAM Test Prep free?
HAM Test Prep costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is HamTester Extra free?
HamTester Extra costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do HAM Test Prep or HamTester Extra have ads?
Neither HAM Test Prep nor HamTester Extra shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HAM Test Prep or HamTester Extra?
HAM Test Prep ships an update every 4 months, and HamTester Extra every 6 months. Most recently, HAM Test Prep was updated on September 26, 2026 and HamTester Extra on September 9, 2026.
Which is more popular, HAM Test Prep or HamTester Extra?
HAM Test Prep currently peaks at #164 in the App Store charts, and HamTester Extra at #196. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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