# EchoLink vs ION Smart Badge

The clearest difference is rating: ION Smart Badge at 4.4 against EchoLink's 3.9. ION Smart Badge also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 13.0). EchoLink's advantage is ratings volume (46 vs 5) and review sentiment (61% vs 50%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ION Smart Badge holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EchoLink has 46 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of EchoLink's written reviews are positive against 50% of ION Smart Badge's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

EchoLink ships an update every 4 months, ION Smart Badge every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EchoLink | ION Smart Badge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echolink/id350688562/reviews) | **[4.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ion-smart-badge/id1059500826/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **46** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **61.4% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 20 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **7.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Synergenics, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/350688565) | [ION Audio](https://appshunter.io/developer/456471027) |

## What reviewers say

### EchoLink

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echolink/id350688562)

Connect to the EchoLink network using your iOS device. This application allows validated Amateur Radio operators to access the system from virtually anywhere. Registration with a valid Amateur Radio callsign is required.

**Highlights:** Connect to EchoLink network, Use on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Validated user access, Remote connectivity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Wonderful System
- 🚀 Great for ham travelers
- 🚀 Amazing App
- 🚀 Great tool for Hams
- 🚀 Excellent System

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 EchoLink does not work
- 🐛 Can't find stations!
- 🐛 Not working on ios26 iPhone pro max
- 🐛 Mic gain
- 🐛 Connectivity problems lately

**Reported bugs**

- Latest version (2.19) could use some improvement
- No way to reset password
- Doesn't seem to be working on my phone, I enter call sign, password, and email. I click on login and nothing happens
- Just updated EchoLink to find that it's now stuttering all the time
- After the upgrade there are connection issues

**Requested features**

- Bigger PTT please?
- Add more to app
- Password reset in app option
- Almost There!
- Bigger PTT please?


### ION Smart Badge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ion-smart-badge/id1059500826)

Easily program a wearable LED badge with custom scrolling or stationary messages. Display names, titles, or important information clearly and impactfully. The companion app allows for message creation, storage, and customization of brightness, font, and speed.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth programming, Customizable LED messages, Scrolling and stationary text, Adjustable brightness and speed, Store up to eight messages, Easy attachment to clothing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EchoLink free?

EchoLink is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ION Smart Badge free?

ION Smart Badge is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, EchoLink or ION Smart Badge?

ION Smart Badge is rated higher. EchoLink averages 3.9 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while ION Smart Badge averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do EchoLink or ION Smart Badge have ads?

Neither EchoLink nor ION Smart Badge shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, EchoLink or ION Smart Badge?

EchoLink ships an update every 4 months, and ION Smart Badge every 6 weeks. Most recently, EchoLink was updated on November 10, 2026 and ION Smart Badge on November 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*