Comparison

Ham Morse vs Head Copy

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

Head to head
About

Ham Morse

Master Morse code with this comprehensive practice tool. Learn individual characters, numbers, callsigns, and even full news stories at adjustable speeds and audio frequencies. Ideal for ham radio operators and enthusiasts seeking proficiency.

Highlights
  • Farnsworth timing for learning
  • Adjustable speed and audio frequency
  • Practice letters, numbers, and callsigns
  • Koch character progression method
  • Top 100/500 common words practice
  • News feed practice
  • Ham QSO examples
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Learn and practice Morse code where ever you are. Some comments from our App store reviews: Brilliant if you really want to learn morse - Five Stars! Very very good... - Five Stars! This is one of the best cw tutor apps available - Five Stars! Just what I needed for handy practice anywhere anytime! Highly recommended! - Five Stars! This is the best app I've found for increasing my code accuracy and helping to increase my speed. Five Stars! Ham Morse allows you to practice morse code on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. It is designed particularly for Ham radio operators and others who wish to achieve or maintain a high level of proficiency in this classic mode of communication. Ham morse has the following features: The code is sent using the Farnsworth timing whereby the morse characters are sent at 15 words per minute (WPM) and then extra spacing is added to slow the overall WPM to speeds slower than 15 WPM. The farnsworth speed can be adjusted if you wish to use a speed other than 15WPM. The maximum speed that the morse can be sent at is 50 words per minute. The morse audio waveforms have a 5ms rise time to reduce key clicks and yet provide crisp code to copy. The audio frequency can be varied from 220Hz up to 900Hz. A typical value might be around 700Hz but a lower tone can be very useful in some situations. The code can be paused just in case you are interrupted or want to take a break, an incoming call on an iPhone pauses the code automatically. To help you learn the morse code itself HamMorse allows you to practice a variety of sets of characters from individual random letters all the way to the current news stories from around the world. Koch - This setting uses the Koch character progression. It starts with just one letter and then you can add a new letter when you have mastered the previous character set. This is one of the most popular methods of learning the morse character set. Letters - Practice the individual letters, A-Z. Add new letters to your practice set using the settings page. Numbers - Practice the numbers, 0-9. Which numbers you practice can be controlled on the settings page. Callsigns - allows you to practice receiving random amateur radio callsigns, a mixture of letters and numbers (eg AA9PW, G1SNT, G5RV) that often prove troublesome when copying code on the air. HamMorse creates a wide variety of international callsigns using the standard ITU prefixes to provide useful practice where ever in the world you may be. Punctuation - provides a wide variety of punctuation and standard morse code prosigns. Top 100 and 500 most common words - this is a great way to start to recognize whole words the key to really improving your speed. News feeds - these provide the opportunity to copy real sentences and keep up with the news at the same time. Note that the News feeds will only work with an active network connection. Ham QSOs - listen to examples of typical on-air exchanges between ham radio operators - practice coping the callsigns, RST reports, location, rig, antenna and many other pieces of a typical QSO. Accessibility support - The app also has support for Apple's accessibility tool, Voice Over. When Voice Over is activated each button and field has an audible description available describing the button or slider and its use. Text Delay - As an additional learning aid You can have the text appear a few seconds after the morse code is played so you have time to copy the letter before it appears on screen. Text Filter - Filter out characters from the News feeds or QSOs that you are not yet familiar with so you can start practicing with real text even if you don't yet know the whole morse character set.

About

Head Copy

Master Morse code with realistic QSO simulations and professional training modes. Practice with authentic callsigns, radio conditions, and contest simulations. Ideal for amateur radio operators looking to improve their CW skills.

Highlights
  • Realistic QSO simulator with real callsigns
  • Professional training modes (POTA, SKCC, Contest)
  • Authentic radio experience with QSB, QRN, and vintage effects
  • Adjustable WPM speeds (5-50 WPM)
  • CarPlay integration for practice on the go
  • Background learning with sleep timer
Features
Read full description

Master Morse code with Head Copy, the most comprehensive CW training app designed specifically for amateur radio operators. Whether you're preparing for your first QSO or training for competitive contests, Head Copy delivers authentic, realistic practice that mirrors real on-air conditions. REALISTIC QSO SIMULATOR Experience industry-first realistic CW conversations with actual callsigns from CWops, SKCC, and contest participants. No more artificial practice text - train with the same callsigns you'll encounter on the air. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING MODES - POTA (Parks on the Air): Practice authentic park-to-park contacts - SKCC (Straight Key Century Club): Master straight key techniques with realistic key characteristics - Contest Training: WPX, CWops CWT, SST, MST, and NCCC Sprint simulations - LICW Specialized Training: Advanced learning methods - Words List Training: Build fundamental skills with curated word lists AUTHENTIC RADIO EXPERIENCE Head Copy simulates real radio conditions with QSB (signal fading), QRN (atmospheric noise), and vintage radio effects. Choose between modern crystal-clear audio or vintage tube radio warmth. Practice with straight key simulation that includes realistic contact bounce and timing variations. ADVANCED FEATURES - Adjustable WPM speeds from 5 to 50 WPM - Farnsworth timing for character vs word speed control - Wordsworth spacing for advanced timing control - Head-copy mode: text display delay for authentic copying practice - Background learning with sleep timer - CarPlay integration for commute practice - Unlimited practice time (Premium) COMPREHENSIVE CONTENT All training content is regularly updated with fresh callsign databases and contest exchanges. Practice with thousands of real amateur radio callsigns and authentic contest exchanges used in actual competitions. CONVENIENT ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION Stop juggling multiple apps, MP3 files, or YouTube videos. Head Copy puts everything you need for serious CW training in one professional application. Practice anywhere, anytime, with or without internet connection. PERFECT FOR - New amateur radio operators learning CW - Contest operators preparing for competitions - POTA and SOTA activators - SKCC members practicing straight key techniques - Anyone serious about improving their Morse code skills EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Built-in learning materials include Morse code fundamentals, head-copy study guides, learning tips and tricks, and comprehensive reference charts. Everything you need to progress from beginner to expert. SUBSCRIPTION FEATURES Premium subscription unlocks all training modes, unlimited practice time, advanced audio features, and priority support. Free version includes basic training with time limits. Head Copy is developed by active amateur radio operators who understand the real challenges of learning and maintaining CW skills. Join thousands of hams worldwide who trust Head Copy for their Morse code training. Download Head Copy today and experience the difference that realistic, professional CW training makes. Your on-air confidence starts here. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://head-copy.com/privacy-policy.html

Screenshots

Ham Morse4 screens
Head Copy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Head Copy at Free against Ham Morse's $4.99. Head Copy also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). Ham Morse's advantage is review sentiment (66% vs 25%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Head Copy is free to download; Ham Morse costs $4.99 up front. Head Copy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Ham Morse asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ham Morse holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ham Morse has 106 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Ham Morse's written reviews are positive against 25% of Head Copy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ham Morse ships an update every 4 months, Head Copy weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Ham Morse versus Head Copy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHam MorseHead Copy
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating3.8 (106 ratings) — better3.5 (13 ratings)
Positive reviews66.1% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings106 — better13
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#189 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.1 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSimon Twigger, AA9PWCCE3D LLC

Customer experience

Ham Morse

All ratings106 ratings
Positive67.0%
Neutral9.4%
Negative23.6%
Written reviews112 reviews
Positive66.1%
Neutral10.7%
Negative23.2%

Head Copy

All ratings13 ratings
Positive61.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative38.5%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Bugs and requests

Ham Morse

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • No sound output on iPhone and iPad speakers
  • App crashes on startup with certain iOS versions
  • App stops when screen is turned off or in dark mode
  • Settings reset on app relaunch
  • Koch spacing not working correctly
Show 7 more
  • Double quote character shows but produces no sound
  • Slash symbol missing from punctuation practice
  • App crashes when accessing news feeds
  • Character speed setting doesn't work properly
  • Incorrect Morse code for letter 'K' (Dah-Dit-Dit instead of Dah-Dit-Dah)
  • Skipped characters during transmission
  • App won't run on newer iOS versions after updates

Requested features

12 requests
  • Background audio playback when screen is off
  • Landscape orientation support for iPad
  • Persistent settings between app launches
  • Farnsworth timing with independent character and word speeds
  • User text input to convert to Morse code
Show 7 more
  • Typing along feature with error feedback
  • Apple Watch remote control integration
  • Continuous character group playback option
  • More RSS feed sources
  • Sending practice key feature
  • Text delay option before display
  • Ability to focus on weak characters with less repetition of mastered ones

Head Copy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Ham Morse

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Head Copy

Subscriptions2
  • Head Copy Premium Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Head Copy Premium Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Ham Morse free?
Ham Morse costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Head Copy free?
Head Copy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ham Morse or Head Copy?
Ham Morse is rated higher. Ham Morse averages 3.8 out of 5 from 106 ratings, while Head Copy averages 3.5 from 13 ratings.
Do Ham Morse or Head Copy have ads?
Neither Ham Morse nor Head Copy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ham Morse or Head Copy?
Ham Morse ships an update every 4 months, and Head Copy weekly. Most recently, Ham Morse was updated on September 21, 2026 and Head Copy on September 11, 2026.

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