Comparison

EchoLink vs SAS Survival Guide

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

SAS Survival Guide

This app offers essential wilderness survival information, including fire building, water sourcing, and navigation techniques. It features photo galleries, instructional videos, and a quiz to test your knowledge. Prepare for outdoor adventures with this entry-level survival guide.

Highlights
  • Basic survival information
  • Fire building
  • Finding water
  • Navigation by stars
  • Survival kit checklist
  • Instructional videos
Features
Read full description

This is the FREE version of the Best seller iTunes app, the SAS Survival Guide, available now in the App Store and as an inApp Purchase. Based on the million-copy bestselling book, this fantastic free app provides you with a bare bones guide to wilderness survival. Jam-packed with basic survival tools, you'll be equipped for any expedition to the outdoors with this entry-level guide in your arsenal. ▶▶ ACCOLADES ◀◀ ◆◆◆ SAS Survival Guide wins "Official Honoree" Award at the 15th Annual Webbys ◆◆◆ ◆◆◆ Selected for "iTunes REWIND 2010" ◆◆◆ ◆◆◆ Listed under "Apple Featured Applications", "What's Hot" & "New & Noteworthy" Worldwide.◆◆◆ ◆◆◆ Has achieved the #1 LIFESTYLE APP in most geographic locations.◆◆◆ ▶▶ ABOUT THE SAS SURVIVAL GUIDE ◀◀ For over twenty years, the SAS Survival Guide has been the definitive guide to surviving any situation, anywhere in the world. Now, for the first time ever, the bestselling book has been reinvented for the iPhone. Written by former SAS soldier and instructor, John "Lofty" Wiseman, this application brings you the elite training techniques of Britain’s toughest fighting force in the most accessible version ever. Now you can take the world-class survival skills of the SAS with you anywhere in the world – from the peaks of Kilimanjaro to the deserts of Kandahar…or to your closest national park. The Lite App Contains: •Basic survival information including: building fires, finding water, navigating by the stars, survival kit, signals and codes •Photo galleries of cloud spotting, night sky navigation, and more •Video of Lofty Wiseman demonstrating knife skills •100+ question quiz to test if you've got what it takes to survive •Survival checklist to help you prepare for trips •Search the app by keyword for quick reference ▶▶▶ WHY NOT GET THE FULL APP ◀◀◀ The Full app contains: •Full text, in 9 chapters, of the bestselling book optimised for the iPhone •16 videos providing invaluable survival tips from Lofty himself •Photo galleries of edible, medicinal and poisonous plants •Morse Code signalling device •100 + question quiz to test if you've got what it takes to survive •Survival Checklist •Sun Compass •Search tool to scan entire book by subject •Extreme Climate Survival: sections on surviving Polar, Desert, Tropical, and Sea •Comprehensive First Aid section ------------------------------------ Also included for purchase is the ◆ SAS Urban Survival Guide ◆ Learn How to Protect Yourself Against Terrorism, Natural Disasters, Fires, Home Invasions, and Everyday Health and Safety Hazards

Screenshots

EchoLink3 screens
SAS Survival Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: EchoLink at none against SAS Survival Guide's 2. EchoLink also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 17 months) and rating (3.9 vs 3.6). SAS Survival Guide's advantage is review sentiment (78% vs 62%) and ratings volume (177 vs 44). On price, ads 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. SAS Survival Guide sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. EchoLink asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

EchoLink holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44 and 177 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of EchoLink's written reviews are positive against 78% of SAS Survival Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EchoLink ships an update every 4 months, SAS Survival Guide every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
EchoLink versus SAS Survival Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEchoLinkSAS Survival Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (44 ratings) — better3.6 (177 ratings)
Positive reviews61.5% of reviews78.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings44177 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 17 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB110 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSynergenics, LLCTrellisys.net

Customer experience

EchoLink

All ratings41 ratings
Positive68.3%
Neutral12.2%
Negative19.5%
Written reviews382 reviews
Positive61.5%
Neutral12.0%
Negative26.4%

SAS Survival Guide

All ratings176 ratings
Positive64.2%
Neutral9.1%
Negative26.7%
Written reviews203 reviews
Positive78.3%
Neutral4.9%
Negative16.7%

User reviews

EchoLink

From 44 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

SAS Survival Guide

From 177 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Helpful survival information
  • 🔍 Detailed checklists and quizzes
  • 🗺️ Useful for outdoor activities
  • 💡 Portable survival guide

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🔒 Restoration of previous purchases not working
  • 🔍 Limited content in free version
  • 🔋 Compatibility issues with newer devices

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

SAS Survival Guide

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to access full content beyond first few paragraphs
  • Scrolling not working in certain sections
  • Videos not playing or getting stuck
  • Inconsistent app behavior across devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • More detailed survival content
  • Video tutorials and demonstrations
  • Offline access to full content
  • Ability to save progress and notes

In-app purchases

None

EchoLink

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

SAS Survival Guide

One-time2
  • Urban SAS$3.99
  • SAS Survival Guide$5.99

Questions

Is EchoLink free?
EchoLink is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SAS Survival Guide free?
SAS Survival Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, EchoLink or SAS Survival Guide?
EchoLink is rated higher. EchoLink averages 3.9 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while SAS Survival Guide averages 3.6 from 177 ratings.
Do EchoLink or SAS Survival Guide have ads?
Neither EchoLink nor SAS Survival Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EchoLink or SAS Survival Guide?
EchoLink ships an update every 4 months, and SAS Survival Guide every 17 months. Most recently, EchoLink was updated on October 23, 2026 and SAS Survival Guide on November 1, 2026.

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