MorseDecoder vs SDR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MorseDecoder
This app decodes Morse code sounds directly from your device's microphone or headset input. It offers both automatic and manual decoding modes with adjustable parameters for optimal performance in various conditions.
- Morse code sound to text translation
- Automatic and manual decoding modes
- Adjustable audio filter frequency
- Configurable WPM speed
- Background noise threshold adjustment
- Built-in spectrogram
- Optional narrow-band DSP audio filter
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The HotPaw Morse Code Decoder translates Morse Code sound into text. Just use the microphone or headset input on your iPhone or iPad for the audio signal input, and watch decoded text appear. The Morse Code Decoder includes both an automatic decoding mode, plus manual controls to allow the decoding of weaker signals in noise and QRM. Manually adjustable parameters include the frequency of the audio filter, the WPM dot/dash speed used for detecting characters, the threshold level of background noise, and whether Farnsworth timing is to be used for detecting spaces between individual characters. The Morse Code Decoder includes a built-in spectrogram to help determine the audio frequency of the Morse Code tones. Use the optional narrow-band DSP audio filter to help filter out background noise. The audio filter works for tone frequencies from 300 to 2400 Hz. Please do not try to decode tones outside this range. The Morse code WPM (words per minute) detection speed is automatically adaptive from about 8 to 40 WPM, and can be locked to the current estimated WPM dot speed. You can also manually set the WPM code speed if the automatic speed detection guesses incorrectly. A QRQ High Speed WPM mode setting allows decoding much higher WPM speeds in the range of 30 to 80 WPM. Please aim your iPhone microphone at the Morse Code sound source so that the iPhone's noise cancelling microphone doesn't cancel it out. You can see if sound is getting to the iPhone by seeing a peak in the spectrum display. Please use the manual settings if automatic decoding does not adjust to the frequency, WPM. or background noise threshold level properly. Decoding will not work if the audio filter or WPM are set incorrectly, or there is a lot of background noise or room echoes above the threshold setting. Please see the help file on the HotPaw website for hints as to how to solve decoding issues.
SDR
Control your Icom transceiver remotely or locally from your iPhone. Operate in all modes, log QSOs, and utilize integrated digital modes like FT8/FT4 and SSTV. No extra hardware is needed for global access.
- Remote transceiver operation
- All mode control
- Auto logging logbook
- Integrated FT8/FT4 tool
- Integrated SSTV receiver
- Integrated CW decoder and keyer
- DX-Cluster integration
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Software Defined Radio Client for Icom Transceivers and your iPhone SDR-Control Mobile is a full featured iPhone App to operate your Icom Transceiver at home or from around the world without additional Hard- or Software. Important: This App requires one of the following Icom Transceivers: IC-705, IC-7610, IC-9700, IC-7760 or the IC-R8600 Receiver or the new IC-7300 MK2 FACTS AND FEATURES: ■ Native iOS 26 app, backward compatible to iOS 17 ■ Compatible with any iPhone ■ Complete operation of your Icom Transceiver in all modes ■ Use the App local or to remote access of your Transceiver from any place without additional Hard- or Software ■ Logbook with auto logging, ADIF Im-/Export ■ UDP Log submission when using external logging software ■ Integrated full featured FT8 / FT4 Tool ■ Integrated SSTV receiver (NEW) ■ Integrated CW Decoder ■ Integrated CW Keyer ■ DX-Cluster integration ■ Call sign lookup integrated ■ Displays Calls on Map with heading and distance information ■ And much more... WHAT YOU NEED: - An Icom IC-705, IC-7610, IC-9700 or IC-7760 Transceiver or IC-R8600 Receiver or the new IC-7300 MK2 - The Transceiver needs to be connected to your Network (WiFi or LAN) - No USB cable needed or supported - An iPhone that runs at least iOS 17 Find out more here: https://ham-radio-apps.com Read the Manual: http://go-to.me/sdrcontrol-mobile-manual
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: MorseDecoder at $9.99 against SDR's $44.99. MorseDecoder also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.3 vs 17.6). SDR's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.2) and review sentiment (84% vs 55%). On ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
MorseDecoder costs $9.99 and SDR $44.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SDR holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 49 and 64 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of MorseDecoder's written reviews are positive against 84% of SDR's.
MorseDecoder ships an update every 3 months, SDR every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MorseDecoder | SDR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 — better | $44.99 |
| Rating | 3.2 (49 ratings) | 4.5 (64 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 54.8% of reviews | 84.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 49 | 64 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #73 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.3 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HotPaw Productions | Marcus Roskosch |
Customer experience
MorseDecoder
SDR
Bugs and requests
MorseDecoder
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
SDR
Reported bugs
12 issues- Dialogs do not scale with larger text setting
- Frequency display overlaps buttons
- FT8 decoding issues (lower signal levels than WSJTX)
- App crashes and leaves radio in transmit
- Logbook export not functional after update
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Function button for horizontal scrolling not fully displayed
- FT8 decode is useless and unreliable
- Messed up radio, requiring reset
- RX audio unusable outside home network (prior to 1.5.1)
- Struggles with audio RX packets on remote cellular networks
- Cannot work over mobile data with certain carriers (EE)
- FT8 alerts sound but don't display
Requested features
14 requests- Develop for IC-7800
- CarPlay support
- Apple Watch add-on
- Windows version
- JS8call support
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- More digital modes
- Display memory bank names
- Initiate memory scan from app
- WSPR implementation
- Tool for WSPR
- More FT8/FT4 features (e.g., setting transmit frequency directly in FT8 view)
- Send image to unit
- KISS TNC support
- Control digital modes (reflectors, etc.)
In-app purchases
MorseDecoder
No in-app purchases
SDR
No in-app purchases









