MorseDecoder vs Morse Elmer
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
Read full descriptionHide 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.
Morse Elmer
Learn Morse Code effectively with this app. It utilizes proven methods like the Koch Method and Farnsworth spacing to accelerate your learning. Track your progress with detailed graphs and train anytime to become proficient.
- Learn Morse Code
- Koch Method training
- Farnsworth spacing
- Progress tracking
- Graphical results
- On-the-go training
Read full descriptionHide full description
Morse Elmer is an app to help you learn Morse Code. Morse Elmer uses two well established methods to help you learn: The Koch Method and Farnsworth spacing. As you train Morse Elmer keeps track of your results, graphing them so you can monitor your progress. With Morse Elmer on your iOS device you'll have the tools to train whenever you want and the more frequently you train the quicker you'll become proficient. Learn more at: http://morseelmer.blogspot.com/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Morse Elmer at 4.8 against MorseDecoder's 3.2. Morse Elmer also leads on price ($0.99 vs $9.99) and review sentiment (81% vs 55%). MorseDecoder's advantage is iOS requirement (12.3 vs 17.6). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Morse Elmer $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Morse Elmer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 49 and 187 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of MorseDecoder's written reviews are positive against 81% of Morse Elmer's.
MorseDecoder ships an update every 3 months, Morse Elmer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MorseDecoder | Morse Elmer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.2 (49 ratings) | 4.8 (187 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 54.8% of reviews | 81.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 49 | 187 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.3 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HotPaw Productions | Morgan Jones |
Customer experience
MorseDecoder
Morse Elmer
Bugs and requests
MorseDecoder
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Morse Elmer
Reported bugs
7 issues- Incorrect Morse code for some letters
- Missing option to add letters (iOS 15+)
- Text not displaying in settings dialog (iPad Air)
- Drops last character in sequence reporting
- Volume extremely low on headphone/Bluetooth
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- App compatibility issues with current iOS versions
- Support link missing from app
Requested features
13 requests- Higher speed support (beyond current limits)
- Keyboard input mode for automatic scoring
- Sending/keying practice capability
- Extended session duration (30+ minutes)
- Morse code reference chart in-app
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Variable temperature numbers in QSO mode
- More diverse QTH locations
- Standard iOS file picker integration
- File deletion and organization options
- Error-based scoring option
- Practice timer reset functionality
- Head copy practice mode
- Custom word list creation
In-app purchases
MorseDecoder
No in-app purchases
Morse Elmer
No in-app purchases








