MorseKey vs RST 599TK
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MorseKey
Practice sending Morse Code with this simple touchscreen keyer. Adjust tone frequency and volume, or use the iambic keyer for speed training. Ideal for learning and practicing Morse Code transmission.
- Touchscreen Morse code key
- Adjustable tone frequency
- Adjustable volume
- Iambic keyer (mode A)
- Adjustable dot speed
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This is a very simple touchscreen-based Morse Code straight key. Practice sending Morse Code on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Touch the display screen and the device will sound out a tone. The duration of the tone is controlled by how long you touch the device screen. Send Dots using quick touches, and Dashes by touches held down 3 times longer. The tone frequency is adjustable from 300 Hz to 1200 Hz in the Settings. The volume can be adjusted to a lower level as well. There is also an iambic keyer (mode A) with adjustable dot speed available. A Morse Code tutorial is not included. You can find one on Wikipedia or on the ARRL website. Also see MorseTest, in the iPhone App Store, another educational Morse Code application by HotPaw Productions.
RST 599TK
This application simulates Morse code communication for amateur radio operators. It supports various QSO styles, Morse code input via a touch keyer, and includes a CW decoder. Features allow for speed control, status display, and shortcut keys for common phrases.
- CW QSO simulation
- Electric Touch Keyer input
- Contest style QSO support
- CW Speed Control
- Min-in CW Decoder
- Shortcut keys for CQ and TU
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This app is a real CW QSO simulator for Amateur Radio. "599BK & AADX Contest type QSO" is supported. Input of Morse Codes are by using Electric Touch Keyer. Changing of TX/RX is by SEND button. Supported Min-in CW Decoder too. 【Characteristic】 1. "599BK" and "Contest" style support. 2.Support the CW Speed Control, Reverse of Dot/Dash pad. 3.Status display showing TX / RX operation. 4.Support the space insertion operation both automatic and manual. 5.Support the Min-in CW Decoder function. 6.Support the shortcut-key of CQ and TU. CQ Button function can be set by setting menu. 7.Support the repeat-call function. It works only when the TU button is pressed at the end of the QSO. 8.Support input function by key button 【How to use】 1.The case of CQ Calling Press SEND button Input "CQ CQ DX DE (YOUR CALLSIGN) PSE K" by Touch Keyer. Press SEND button again 2.The case of CQ Answering Press SEND button Input "QRZ DX" by Touch Keyer or Straight Key. Press SEND button again --- Examples of QSO --- [CQ Calling] "CQ CQ DX DE xxnxx xxnxx PSE K" >>> xxnxx DE **n** K "**n** DE xxnxx UR RST 559 BK" >>> R MY RPT 559 UR RST 599 BK "QSL TU" >>> R 73 TU "E E" >>> E E [CQ Ansewing] "QRZ DX" >>> "CQ CQ DE **n** **n** PSE K" "**n** DE xxnxx K" >>> "xxnxx DE **n** UR RST 579 BK" "R **n** DE xxnxx UR RST 599 TU" >>> "R TU" "E E" >>> E E --- DETEC WORDS --- [CQ Calling] CQ CQ DX CQ NA CQ JA [CQ Ansewing] QRZ QRZ DX QRZ NA QRZ JA [BOTH] DE K BK UR RST 73 TU E E etc... 【Example usage video】 - Touch Keyer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuSEaJtD3KQ - Microphone IN Mode - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goN9hVDEGnM
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: MorseKey at none against RST 599TK's shown. MorseKey also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). RST 599TK's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 12 months). On price, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MorseKey holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 9 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of MorseKey's written reviews are positive against 100% of RST 599TK's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
MorseKey ships an update every 12 months, RST 599TK every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and August 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MorseKey | RST 599TK |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (28 ratings) — better | 4.1 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 28 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 0 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HotPaw Productions | koji kamogawa |
Customer experience
MorseKey
RST 599TK
In-app purchases
MorseKey
No in-app purchases
RST 599TK
No in-app purchases
