EchoLink vs Grid Locator Finder
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.
Grid Locator Finder
This tool displays Grid Locator References on a map, useful for ham radio operators planning portable or mobile operations. It offers 6-digit and an expanded 10-digit locator system based on Wikipedia's logic.
- Tap on map for Grid Locator Reference
- Supports 6-digit and 10-digit locators
- Zoom to street level for precise location
- Convenient for portable/mobile ham radio operations
- Based on ARRL document and Wikipedia logic
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Tap anywhere on the map and app will show you Grid Locator Reference. This is convenient tool for ham radio operators to make a plan for portable and/or mobile operation as well as big DX expedition. Internet connection is required. Zoom in to street level, app will show you 10 digit locator. Note: Usually Grid Locator is 6 digit as defined in ARRL document. This 10 digit is expansion of 6 digit as 7th and 8th are divided by 10 ("0" through "9") then 9th and 10th are divided by 24 ("a" through "x"). This logic is based on article on Wikipedia. If you want to get Grid Locator Reference on your current location, please refer to my other app, "Grid Locator Calculator".
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: EchoLink at 3.9 against Grid Locator Finder's 2.0. EchoLink also leads on ratings volume (44 vs 2). Grid Locator Finder's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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, 3.9 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EchoLink has 44 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of EchoLink's written reviews are positive against 67% of Grid Locator Finder's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.
| Parameter | EchoLink | Grid Locator Finder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (44 ratings) — better | 2.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.5% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 44 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Synergenics, LLC | Kazunori Watanabe |
Customer experience
EchoLink
Grid Locator Finder
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
Grid Locator Finder
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
EchoLink
No in-app purchases
Grid Locator Finder
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is EchoLink free?
Is Grid Locator Finder free?
Which has better reviews, EchoLink or Grid Locator Finder?
Do EchoLink or Grid Locator Finder have ads?
Which is updated more often, EchoLink or Grid Locator Finder?
Other comparisons
