EchoLink vs SideCar
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
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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.
SideCar
This application allows users to set up and manage their SideCar device directly from their smartphone. It provides a streamlined interface for configuration and ongoing control of the device's features.
- Device setup
- Device management
- Smartphone control
- Streamlined interface
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Setup and manage SideCar from your phone
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: EchoLink at 62% against SideCar's 0%. EchoLink also leads on rating (4.0 vs 2.4) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 10 months). 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 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EchoLink has 41 ratings behind it against 5, 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 0% of SideCar's.
EchoLink ships an update every 4 months, SideCar every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EchoLink | SideCar |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (41 ratings) — better | 2.4 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.7% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 41 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 10 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Synergenics, LLC | Epilog Imaging Systems, Inc. |
Customer experience
EchoLink
SideCar
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
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- 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
SideCar
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
EchoLink
No in-app purchases
SideCar
No in-app purchases
