Comparison

ACARS vs SWLog

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ACARS

View ACARS aircraft transmissions on your iOS device without a bulky computer. Requires a radio scanner tuned to the aircraft band. Save decodes to a file or transfer to your computer.

Highlights
  • View ACARS transmissions on iOS
  • Save decoded packets to a file
  • Transfer data to computer via iTunes
  • Built-in aircraft model database
  • Add custom plane information
  • Color-coded packet fields
Features
Read full description

Want to display ACARS transmissions, without using a bulky computer? ACARS lets you view ACARS aircraft transmissions on your iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. A radio/scanner capable of tuning the 118-136 MHz aircraft band is required. Just set it next to the radio's speaker, tune in an ACARS frequency, and watch the decodes. Or, for even better reception, use a pair of earbuds, plugged into the radio’s headphone jack, rather than the internal speaker. You can save decoded ACARS packets to a file to view later, or transfer to your computer via iTunes. Aircraft model information for many planes in a built in database is displayed along with the decoded packets. You can also add your own plane information to the database. Packet fields are color coded on iOS 6 and later. Buy your copy right now, and start decoding and displaying ACARS transmissions in minutes.

About

SWLog

Log amateur radio QSOs and broadcast transmissions on your mobile device. Supports QRZ lookups and various broadcast schedule queries for station identification. Features GPS integration and local log browsing, with the ability to upload to a main logging program.

Highlights
  • Log amateur radio QSOs
  • Log broadcast transmissions
  • QRZ lookups
  • Broadcast schedule lookups
  • GPS integration
  • Upload logs to main program
Features
Read full description

SWLog is a mobile companion application to the full SWLog suite or logging and radio control applications. SWLog allows amateur radio and broadcast (shortwave, AM/FM, and utility) transmissions to be logged locally and later uploaded to the main logging program. QRZ can be used for lookups for amateur radio logs. For broadcast logs, various program schedules from ADDX, AOKI, EIBI, FCC, HFCC, ILGRadio, and SWSkeds are queried to aid in identifying the station. Features of this app include: * Download a preset list of locations, radios, and broadcast program schedules * Add an amateur radio QSO * Supports QRZ lookups * Monitor POTA spots * Add a POTA spot * Add a broadcast log * Supports lookups to various program schedules * GPS integration including calculating the current grid square to 10 characters * View/Browse locally added logs * Upload logs to the main logging program

Screenshots

ACARS3 screens
SWLog4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SWLog at Free against ACARS's $2.99. SWLog also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 12 months). ACARS's advantage is review sentiment (41% vs 25%) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 16.1). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

SWLog is free to download; ACARS costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ACARS ships an update every 12 months, SWLog fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ACARS versus SWLog: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterACARSSWLog
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.0 (14 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews41.4% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS6.0 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB305 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlack Cat SystemsRobert Sillett

Customer experience

ACARS

All ratings14 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral21.4%
Negative35.7%
Written reviews29 reviews
Positive41.4%
Neutral27.6%
Negative31.0%

SWLog

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

In-app purchases

None

ACARS

No in-app purchases

None

SWLog

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ACARS free?
ACARS costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SWLog free?
SWLog is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ACARS or SWLog have ads?
Neither ACARS nor SWLog shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ACARS or SWLog?
ACARS ships an update every 12 months, and SWLog fortnightly. Most recently, ACARS was updated on October 15, 2026 and SWLog on October 9, 2026.

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