Comparison

iCluster vs xCluster

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

xCluster

Visualize DX cluster activity on a world map and in a list. Filter spots by call sign or band, and set custom alerts for specific stations or countries. Integrates with popular DX services and provides call parsing for location data.

Highlights
  • Display DX spots on map and list
  • Filter by band and call sign
  • Set custom alerts
  • Integrates with DXSummit and PSK Reporter
  • Built-in call parser
  • Zoom and pan map
Features
Read full description

xCluster is a visual display of dx cluster activity built for the iPad. DX spots are received via telnet or web services and displayed in a tabular form and plotted on a map of the world. You can filter the spots by call sign or band. Spots are created using the latitude and longitude of the dx station and spotter. The program has an internal call parsing component to determine the country for each call but can use QRZ.com for more accurate location data. Lookup priority is QRZ.com with the the call parser as a backup. DX spots can be displayed on a map or in a tabular form. Alerts for specific stations, bands or countries may be set and will be highlighted in the list and on the map. A number of major telnet clusters are built in along with DXSummit and PSK Reporter. PSK Reporter will display other stations that can hear your signal. You must be running WSJT-X or FLDIGI and have it configured correctly to work. You may contact the author with questions, suggestions or issues at support@w6op.com Features: Display dx spots on a map and in a list Predefined cluster servers and websites Filter by band and call sign Set alerts for display in the list and on the map Alerts can be set by country, band and call sign Save alerts in iCloud Built in call parser if QRZ.com is unavailable Freeform cluster command input Zoom and pan the map display

Screenshots

iCluster4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: xCluster at Free against iCluster's $5.99. xCluster also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 72%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). iCluster's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (10.1 vs 26.0). On rating, 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

xCluster 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for iCluster against 4.0 for xCluster. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 5 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of iCluster's written reviews are positive against 100% of xCluster's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iCluster ships an update every 2 months, xCluster every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
iCluster versus xCluster: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriClusterxCluster
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating4.1 (10 ratings) — better4.0 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews71.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings10 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS10.1 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarcus RoskoschPeter Bourget

Customer experience

iCluster

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

xCluster

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

iCluster

No in-app purchases

None

xCluster

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iCluster free?
iCluster costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is xCluster free?
xCluster is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iCluster or xCluster?
iCluster is rated higher. iCluster averages 4.1 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while xCluster averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.
Do iCluster or xCluster have ads?
Neither iCluster nor xCluster shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iCluster or xCluster?
iCluster ships an update every 2 months, and xCluster every 3 weeks. Most recently, iCluster was updated on September 27, 2026 and xCluster on September 21, 2026.

Other comparisons