Comparison

MorseDecoder vs SDR

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Remote transceiver operation
  • All mode control
  • Auto logging logbook
  • Integrated FT8/FT4 tool
  • Integrated SSTV receiver
  • Integrated CW decoder and keyer
  • DX-Cluster integration
Currently charting
Read full description

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

MorseDecoder1 screens
SDR4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

MorseDecoder costs $9.99 and SDR $44.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
MorseDecoder versus SDR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMorseDecoderSDR
Price$9.99 — better$44.99
Rating3.2 (49 ratings)4.5 (64 ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.8% of reviews84.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4964 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#73 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.3 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHotPaw ProductionsMarcus Roskosch

Customer experience

MorseDecoder

All ratings49 ratings
Positive51.0%
Neutral8.2%
Negative40.8%
Written reviews104 reviews
Positive54.8%
Neutral3.8%
Negative41.3%

SDR

All ratings64 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.9%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive84.1%
Neutral5.8%
Negative10.1%

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 more
  • 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 more
  • 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

None

MorseDecoder

No in-app purchases

None

SDR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MorseDecoder free?
MorseDecoder costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SDR free?
SDR costs $44.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MorseDecoder or SDR?
SDR is rated higher. MorseDecoder averages 3.2 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while SDR averages 4.5 from 64 ratings.
Do MorseDecoder or SDR have ads?
Neither MorseDecoder nor SDR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MorseDecoder or SDR?
MorseDecoder ships an update every 3 months, and SDR every 2 weeks. Most recently, MorseDecoder was updated on September 30, 2026 and SDR on September 29, 2026.

Other comparisons