NAVTEX Pad vs iFTx
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NAVTEX Pad
Decode NAVTEX and RTTY marine weather transmissions on your iOS device. View safety messages and weather reports without a dedicated receiver. Save and transfer decoded text for later use.
- Decodes NAVTEX transmissions
- Decodes RTTY (BAUDOT & ASCII)
- Saves received text
- Transfers text to computer
- Displays NAVTEX schedules
- No dedicated receiver needed
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NAVTEX Pad lets you view NAVTEX and Radio Teletype (RTTY) marine weather transmissions on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. Just set it near a radio (or for better quality decoding, connect a cable from the radio's audio output jack to the microphone jack), tune in a NAVTEX frequency (usually 518 kHz), and watch the transmissions. NAVTEX weather and marine safety messages are transmitted from dozens of sites around the world. Now you can display these messages without buying a dedicated NAVTEX receiver. Both BAUDOT and ASCII RTTY can also be decoded. The shift and baud can can be selected from the standard values. You can also save your received text to view later, or transfer to your computer via iTunes. Schedules of upcoming NAVTEX transmissions are available within the app, so you'll never miss one. Visit the support page for step by step instructions for using the app: http://www.blackcatsystems.com/ipad/iPad_NAVTEX_Pad_FAQ.html Buy your copy of NAVTEX pad today, and never be without up to date marine weather information again.
iFTx
This app enables seamless communication using FT8 and FT4 digital modes directly from your iOS device. Enjoy portable digital connections, effortless operation with a user-friendly interface, and reliable performance for global contact.
- FT8 and FT4 digital modes
- Portable digital communication
- Global operator connections
- User-friendly interface
- Integrated QSO logging
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Introducing iFTx: The Essential iOS App for FT8 and FT4 Digital Modes! - Seamlessly Engage: iFTx brings FT8 and FT4 digital modes to your iOS device, enabling convenient and portable digital communication. - Anytime, Anywhere: Enjoy the flexibility to connect with operators globally from the comfort of your iOS device. - Effortless Operation: Navigate the user-friendly interface for quick setup and real-time messaging. - Reliable Performance: Experience clear signals and adapt to changing propagation conditions with ease. - Log Your Success: Keep track of your contacts effortlessly with integrated QSO logging.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: iFTx at 72% against NAVTEX Pad's 27%. iFTx also leads on rating (4.2 vs 1.9) and update cadence (every 6 months vs every 17 months). NAVTEX Pad's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On ads, in-app purchases 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
NAVTEX Pad costs $2.99 and iFTx $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
iFTx holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iFTx has 70 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of NAVTEX Pad's written reviews are positive against 72% of iFTx's.
NAVTEX Pad ships an update every 17 months, iFTx every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NAVTEX Pad | iFTx |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 1.9 (12 ratings) | 4.2 (70 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 27.3% of reviews | 71.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12 | 70 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | Every 6 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Black Cat Systems | Christoph Nadig |
Customer experience
NAVTEX Pad
iFTx
In-app purchases
NAVTEX Pad
No in-app purchases
iFTx
No in-app purchases
