# NAVTEX Pad vs DigiDecoder

The clearest difference is price: DigiDecoder at Free against NAVTEX Pad's $2.99. DigiDecoder also leads on rating (4.5 vs 1.9) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 17 months). NAVTEX Pad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.0). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

DigiDecoder is free to download; NAVTEX Pad costs $2.99 up front. DigiDecoder sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. NAVTEX Pad asks for nothing beyond the download.

DigiDecoder holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of NAVTEX Pad's written reviews are positive against 50% of DigiDecoder's.

NAVTEX Pad ships an update every 17 months, DigiDecoder every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NAVTEX Pad | DigiDecoder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [1.9 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navtex-pad/id385592736/reviews) | **[4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digidecoder-ham-radio/id6759073503/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 27.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 3 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Black Cat Systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/301047032) | [Lukasz Skierkowski](https://appshunter.io/developer/1280847319) |

## What reviewers say

### NAVTEX Pad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navtex-pad/id385592736)

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.

**Highlights:** Decodes NAVTEX transmissions, Decodes RTTY (BAUDOT & ASCII), Saves received text, Transfers text to computer, Displays NAVTEX schedules, No dedicated receiver needed

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### DigiDecoder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digidecoder-ham-radio/id6759073503)

This application decodes and encodes various ham radio digital modes in real-time. It automatically recognizes signals, displays them with an animated waterfall, and supports sending SSTV images, CW, FT8, and Packet messages.

**Highlights:** Real-time digital mode decoding, Automatic signal recognition, Animated waterfall display, SSTV image encoding, CW, FT8, and Packet message encoding, Bluetooth and network TNC support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DigiDecoder Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| DigiDecoder Trial | Free | one-time |
| DigiDecoder Lifetime | $8.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NAVTEX Pad free?

NAVTEX Pad costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DigiDecoder free?

DigiDecoder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NAVTEX Pad or DigiDecoder?

DigiDecoder is rated higher. NAVTEX Pad averages 1.9 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while DigiDecoder averages 4.5 from 8 ratings.

### Do NAVTEX Pad or DigiDecoder have ads?

Neither NAVTEX Pad nor DigiDecoder shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NAVTEX Pad or DigiDecoder?

NAVTEX Pad ships an update every 17 months, and DigiDecoder every 6 days. Most recently, NAVTEX Pad was updated on October 29, 2026 and DigiDecoder on October 28, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*