EchoLink vs DX Alerts
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
EchoLink
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.
- Connect to EchoLink network
- Use on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
- Validated user access
- Remote connectivity
Read full descriptionHide full description
Please note: This app is for licensed Amateur Radio operators only. See www.echolink.org for more information. EchoLink for iOS provides access to the EchoLink network for validated EchoLink users. You can use this app to connect to the EchoLink system from almost anywhere, using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. If you are not already a validated EchoLink user, you will be required to register (using your Amateur Radio callsign and a password of your choice) the first time you run the app. Please see the iPhone FAQ at www.echolink.org. Please direct any bug reports or feature suggestions to the Web site at http://www.echolink.org/support.htm, since developers do not read app reviews. If you are interested in becoming a licensed Amateur Radio operator, see www.arrl.org for more information. EchoLink is a registered U.S. trademark of Synergenics, LLC.
DX Alerts
This app provides ham radio operators with a mobile DX cluster tool. It allows users to submit new spots, set alerts for specific callsigns or prefixes, and receive notifications even when the app is not running. It is designed for easy use on mobile devices and tablets.
- Mobile DX cluster access
- Submit new spots
- Callsign and prefix alerts
- Band and mode specific alerts
- Background notifications
- Tablet support
Read full descriptionHide full description
DX Alerts is the ultimate DX cluster tool for ham radio operators. - DX cluster in your pocket. - Submit new spots easily. - Waiting for a DXpedition to go QRV? Need to know when a callsign is going to be spotted on the cluster? Set an alert for the callsign and get notified when the callsign is spotted on the cluster. Regardless if the app is running or not! - Add alerts for specific prefixes and/or callsigns on specific bands and/or modes! - Also works on tablets! - Designed for human fingers, not mouse pointers! 73!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: EchoLink at 62% against DX Alerts's 10%. EchoLink also leads on rating (4.0 vs 1.9) and ratings volume (41 vs 8). DX Alerts's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 13.0). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
EchoLink holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EchoLink has 41 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of EchoLink's written reviews are positive against 10% of DX Alerts's.
EchoLink ships an update every 4 months, DX Alerts fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EchoLink | DX Alerts |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (41 ratings) — better | 1.9 (8 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.7% of reviews — better | 10.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 41 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 7.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 82 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Synergenics, LLC | Tavlikos Software LTD |
Customer experience
EchoLink
DX Alerts
Bugs and requests
EchoLink
Reported bugs
13 issues- 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
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- No support for passwords longer than 14 characters
- The app won't allow me back in to validate my information
- Doesn't work on iphone
- Unable to Use; Password Too Long
- Cannot connect to local reapeater
- Can't close app
- Latest update issues
- Cannot connect
Requested features
13 requests- Bigger PTT please?
- Add more to app
- Password reset in app option
- Almost There!
- Bigger PTT please?
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Searching for call sign s
- Not able to connect with 14.4 iOS upgrade
- Mac version
- Dark Mode Wonky
- Missing Nodes
- Echolink multitasking
- Needs a help or tutorial
- Needs full sysop node server capabilities
DX Alerts
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
EchoLink
No in-app purchases
DX Alerts
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is EchoLink free?
Is DX Alerts free?
Which has better reviews, EchoLink or DX Alerts?
Do EchoLink or DX Alerts have ads?
Which is updated more often, EchoLink or DX Alerts?
Other comparisons
