Comparison

iCluster vs AntScope

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

Head to head
About

iCluster

Access and analyze real-time amateur radio frequency data from the international DX-Cluster database. Filter information by frequency, mode, or location, and automatically decode call signs to identify operator countries. Ideal for radio enthusiasts and shortwave listeners.

Highlights
  • Real-time DX-Cluster database
  • Multiple pre-defined and custom server options
  • Advanced filtering by frequency, mode, call prefix, and zones
  • Automatic call sign decoding
  • Map display of DX spots with distance and bearing
  • QRZ.com and HamQTH lookups
  • iCloud synchronization
Read full description

THE ORIGINAL DX-CLUSTER APP iCluster is an iPhone and iPad App for HAMs, SWLs (Short wave radio listeners) or for everybody who want’s to know, what’s going on on the amateur radio frequencies. This App is connecting the so called international DX-Cluster database in realtime. The results are analyzed and displayed in an easy to read overview. The content can be filtered by frequency (e.g. 80m, 40m etc.) or mode (CW = Morse, Beacon or digital modes), Call Prefix, ITU/CQ Zone, Country and many more. Calls (the callsign of the operators) will be decoded automatically by the App. This allows even inexperienced users to know the countries of the operators. iCluster is an ideal tool for amateur radio operators for field days or contests. But also unlicensed users can use iCluster to find out the frequencies for their shortwave scanner or short wave radio receiver. MAIN FEATURES: ■ Real time DX-Cluster database ■ Several pre-defined Cluster Servers ■ Easy to add your own Server (e.g. CW-Skimmer) ■ Several Filter and Filter combinations ■ Several Alarm settings ■ QRZ.com (Database!) lookup ■ QRZ.com website lookup ■ HamQTH lookup ■ Display whole cluster on a Map (Globe) ■ Display single Spot on a Map (Globe) ■ Shows distance and bearing from own location ■ iCloud Synchronization ■ UTC Clock ■ No HAM license or registering required Take a look to the manual to find out more: http://go-to.me/icluster-manual This App exists since the App Store Exists as this was my first App. It has been continuously improved and re-written several times and is now available as Version 12, written in Swift 5. It's interesting to see how many other bad copies of my App are available on the App Store. If there is another DX-Cluster App, offering features my App is missing, just let me know. vy 73, Marcus, DL8MRE

About

AntScope

Connect your RigExpert antenna analyzer to your smartphone for detailed antenna system analysis. Visualize SWR and Smith charts, and view all parameters in one place.

Highlights
  • Connects to RigExpert analyzers via BLE
  • SWR chart visualization
  • Smith chart visualization
  • All parameters mode
  • Supports RigExpert Stick 230 BLE
Features
Read full description

AntScope for iOS is a software designed to connect the RigExpert antenna analyzers with BLE option to Apple smartphones. This software allows to get information about your antenna system and visualize that information: - SWR chart (standing wave ratio) - Smith chart - All parameters mode Supported analyzers: - RigExpert Stick 230 - RigExpert Stick 230 BLE

Screenshots

iCluster4 screens
AntScope4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iCluster at 72% against AntScope's 23%. iCluster also leads on rating (4.1 vs 2.3) and iOS requirement (10.1 vs 12.0). AntScope's advantage is price (Free vs $5.99) and ratings volume (52 vs 10). On update cadence, ads, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

AntScope is free to download; iCluster costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iCluster holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AntScope has 52 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of iCluster's written reviews are positive against 23% of AntScope's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
iCluster versus AntScope: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriClusterAntScope
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating4.1 (10 ratings) — better2.3 (52 ratings)
Positive reviews71.9% of reviews — better22.5% of reviews
Number of ratings1052 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.1 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarcus RoskoschRig Expert Ukraine Ltd.

Customer experience

iCluster

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews57 reviews
Positive71.9%
Neutral10.5%
Negative17.5%

AntScope

All ratings43 ratings
Positive34.9%
Neutral2.3%
Negative62.8%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive22.5%
Neutral10.0%
Negative67.5%

In-app purchases

None

iCluster

No in-app purchases

None

AntScope

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iCluster free?
iCluster costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is AntScope free?
AntScope is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iCluster or AntScope?
iCluster is rated higher. iCluster averages 4.1 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while AntScope averages 2.3 from 52 ratings.
Do iCluster or AntScope have ads?
Neither iCluster nor AntScope shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iCluster or AntScope?
iCluster ships an update every 2 months, and AntScope every 2 months. Most recently, iCluster was updated on September 27, 2026 and AntScope on September 30, 2026.

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