# HAM Test Prep vs RST Decoder

The clearest difference is price: RST Decoder at Free against HAM Test Prep's $2.99. RST Decoder also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). HAM Test Prep's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (98% vs 67%). On rating and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

RST Decoder is free to download; HAM Test Prep costs $2.99 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 312 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 98% of HAM Test Prep's written reviews are positive against 67% of RST Decoder's.

HAM Test Prep ships an update every 4 months, RST Decoder every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HAM Test Prep | RST Decoder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.9 (312 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ham-test-prep-extra/id298760002/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rst-decoder/id1519587362/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **312** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **97.7% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#164** | — |
| Size | 5 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-extra/id298760002)

**Currently charting:** #164 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Effective exam preparation and high pass rates
- 📱 Convenient mobile access for studying anytime
- 🎯 Accurate and current question pools
- 📊 Tracks progress and identifies weak areas
- 🎮 Randomized questions prevent memorization by position

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes during use
- ❌ Limited practice modes (only randomize tests)
- 🔧 Confusing logic and navigation initially
- 📍 No 'where I left off' bookmark feature

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### 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 $2.99, 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 312 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 4 months, and RST Decoder every 2 months. Most recently, HAM Test Prep was updated on September 26, 2026 and RST Decoder on September 8, 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.*