Comparison

EchoLink vs Carrington

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Connect to EchoLink network
  • Use on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
  • Validated user access
  • Remote connectivity
Features
Read 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.

About

Carrington

Monitor real-time space weather events like solar flares and geomagnetic storms, alongside Earth-based phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic activity. Features interactive visualizations, smart alerts, and tools for citizen scientists to engage with research.

Highlights
  • Real-time KP Index and solar flare monitoring
  • Earthquake and volcano activity tracking
  • Aurora forecasts and visibility predictions
  • Interactive 3D solar system map
  • Customizable smart alerts for events
  • Citizen science research tools
Features
Read full description

CARRINGTON, WATCH THE FORCES THAT MOVE THE WORLD In 1859, a solar storm set telegraph wires sparking across the planet. We call it the Carrington Event. Back then, only the telegraph was wired. Today, everything is, satellites, power grids, GPS, the device in your hand. It happened before. It will happen again. The only question is whether you'll be watching. Carrington puts the planet's biggest natural forces on one live screen: space weather, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and the health of the oceans. Most apps give you a single window. We show you the whole system, the real-time data, the open science, and the connections the standard models keep in separate boxes. Then we let you decide for yourself. SPACE WEATHER, LIVE • KP index & geomagnetic storms, 1-minute and 3-hour updates • X-ray flux, solar flare activity (B, C, M, X class) • Solar wind from L1, RTSW, ACE, SOLAR-1, DSCOVR streams • Proton & electron flux, F10.7, sunspots, magnetometer, cosmic rays • TEC, DRAP & geoelectric fields for radio and grid conditions EARTH & HAZARD MONITORING • Earthquakes, live global, multi-source • Volcanoes, activity plus stratospheric-injection tracking • Tsunamis, warnings and DART buoy data • Aurora, OVATION forecasts with visibility • Ocean health (AMOC), Atlantic circulation, watched in real time FORECAST LAB, EXPERIMENTAL EARTHQUAKE FORECASTING Carrington's own research models, shown openly as map heatmaps and a daily global quake-likelihood gauge. ETAS aftershock clustering, medium-term build-up, deep-quake watch zones, and ionospheric anomaly overlays, clearly labeled for what they are, including when a signal doesn't hold up. We forecast probabilistically and show our work. We do not claim to predict earthquakes. INTERACTIVE MAPS & VISUALS • Blot Map, 60+ toggleable 2D/3D layers: quakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, plate boundaries, aurora, wind, ocean, magnetic field & more • 3D Planet Map, explore the solar system with real orbital data • 80+ live solar video streams (SDO, GOES, SOHO) • ENLIL & HUXt solar-wind models from NOAA, NASA & the UK Met Office SMART ALERTS • 33 space-weather alert types, flares, KP, proton & radio storms, NOAA watches and more • Plus earthquake, volcano, tsunami, cosmic-ray and ocean alerts • Location-based alerts for nearby quakes, aurora tonight, and hazards near you • The earliest possible heads-up with L1 solar-wind early warning OPEN SCIENCE, NOT SETTLED SCIENCE Carrington is built for people who'd rather see the data than be told a story. Read the research papers behind every focus area, follow the live debate, and join a community that reviews the science. We show you the hypotheses, the evidence, and the honest results, and let you watch the Sun–Earth connection unfold yourself. PLANS • Free, the full live monitor, ad-supported • Basic, everything Free, ad-free • Advanced, every alert, full data screens, deep history, analysis tools & advanced map layers • Premium, location alerts, L1 early warning, the full ~125-year quake archive, premium map layers & the complete research toolset Available in 7 languages. Download Carrington and watch the system, free. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

EchoLink3 screens
Carrington4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: EchoLink at none against Carrington's 10. EchoLink also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Carrington's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (217 vs 41). On price, rating, review sentiment 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

Both are free to download. Carrington sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. EchoLink asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for EchoLink against 4.1 for Carrington. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Carrington has 217 ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 62% of EchoLink's written reviews are positive against 54% of Carrington's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EchoLink ships an update every 4 months, Carrington every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
EchoLink versus Carrington: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEchoLinkCarrington
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (41 ratings)4.1 (217 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.7% of reviews — better54.0% of reviews
Number of ratings41217 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB90 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperSynergenics, LLC9 RESE' LLC

Customer experience

EchoLink

All ratings41 ratings
Positive68.3%
Neutral12.2%
Negative19.5%
Written reviews381 reviews
Positive61.7%
Neutral12.1%
Negative26.2%

Carrington

All ratings217 ratings
Positive77.0%
Neutral4.1%
Negative18.9%
Written reviews150 reviews
Positive54.0%
Neutral9.3%
Negative36.7%

User reviews

EchoLink

From 41 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Carrington

From 217 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Real-time alerts
  • 📊 Comprehensive data and visualizations
  • 🔍 Detailed space weather and earthquake monitoring
  • 🌟 Valuable resource for space enthusiasts

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 🔧 Unreliable functionality
  • 💰 Paid subscription required for full access
  • 🗣️ Lack of communication from developers

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 more
  • 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 more
  • 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

Carrington

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Blank alert screens
  • Notifications not working as expected
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
  • Frequent app crashes

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved user interface and navigation
  • Region-specific alerts and customization options
  • Integration with other weather/disaster apps
  • Offline mode and data caching

In-app purchases

None

EchoLink

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Carrington

Subscriptions10
  • BASIC With No Ads- Monthly$0.991 Month
  • DPA Auto Renewing Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Advanced- Monthly$2.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Annual Realtime Updates$5.991 Year
  • SO Advanced Annual$9.991 Year
  • BASIC With No Ads- Annual$9.991 Year
  • Annual Subscription$12.991 Year
  • Advanced- Annual$14.991 Year
  • Premium Annual$19.991 Year

Questions

Is EchoLink free?
EchoLink is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Carrington free?
Carrington is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, EchoLink or Carrington?
Carrington is rated higher. EchoLink averages 4.0 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Carrington averages 4.1 from 217 ratings.
Do EchoLink or Carrington have ads?
Carrington shows ads; EchoLink does not.
Which is updated more often, EchoLink or Carrington?
EchoLink ships an update every 4 months, and Carrington every 6 days. Most recently, EchoLink was updated on October 17, 2026 and Carrington on October 10, 2026.

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