Antenna Mate vs Varicon
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Antenna Mate
This app helps you find the optimal direction for your TV antenna. It uses your device's location and compass to pinpoint the best signal from broadcasting sites in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It's designed for professionals, caravaners, and DIY users.
- Accurate TV antenna direction finding
- Supports UK, Australia, and New Zealand
- Uses device location and compass
- Detailed transmitter information
- Sort sites by strength or distance
- Adjustable search radius
- Automatic light/dark display switching
Read full descriptionHide full description
Take the guess work out of aligning any TV antenna. Within seconds Antenna Mate will accurately* point to the direction of your best** TV reception from anywhere in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Antenna Mate is used by professional installers, caravaners, and DIYers from city and country areas. WE HAVE GOT YOU COVERED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM * 1,151 broadcasting sites. * 3,698 digital transmitters. * All cities and towns in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands where digital terrestrial television is available***** WE HAVE GOT YOU COVERED IN AUSTRALIA * 591 broadcasting sites. * 2,792 digital transmitters. * All cities and towns in QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA, WA and NT where digital terrestrial television is available*** WE HAVE GOT YOU COVERED IN NEW ZEALAND * 35 broadcasting sites. * 344 transmitters * All cities and towns in the North and South Islands where digital terrestrial television is available**** HOW DOES IT WORK? Using your current location, your device's compass, and the target site's effective radiated power, Antenna Mate instantly estimates the signal strength of all nearby sites and automatically plots a bearing to the best one**. Under normal circumstances you should get an initial result within seconds. The longer you leave Antenna Mate open, the more accurate it will become. For best results use Antenna Mate outside in an open space and away from objects which cause interference. Antenna Mate doesn't need an internet connection, that's one of the reasons why it's so fast. DETAILED TRANSMITTER INFO Complete listings of all digital terrestrial transmitters are available at each site. Listings include the callsign, frequency (MHz), channel, polarisation, and effective radiated power (kW). ALL SITES BY STRENGTH OR DISTANCE Prefer to align your TV antenna with another broadcasting site? No worries! Sites can be listed from strongest to weakest, or closest to furthest away. Pick any site from the list and Antenna Mate instantly plots a new bearing to the targeted site. Using an amplifier or high gain antenna? You can increase the search radius up to 200 km (120 mi) from your current location. LIGHT AND DARK DISPLAY SWITCHING When your device is in direct sunlight Antenna Mate will automatically switch to a light display making the arrow easy to see. Perfect for performing an alignment during the middle of the day. USE IT UPSIDE DOWN, OR THE RIGHT WAY UP Antenna Mate is smart enough to know when your device is being held upside down, or the right way up. Either way, it will always point to the targeted site. SUPPORT AND FEEDBACK We would love to hear your feedback or help you troubleshoot. Send an e-mail to support@antennamate.com or tweet @antennamate. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when transmitter data is updated. * Time taken to find best broadcasting site and directional accuracy will vary based on device and external environmental factors. ** Best broadcasting site is measured by estimating maximum theoretical field strength in free space (No obstructions or reflections). Actual field strength will be lower. Closest broadcasting site is measured by estimating distance using line of sight. Distance is only an approximation. *** Based on Australian Communications and Media Authority data. **** Based on Radio Spectrum Management and OpenStreetMap data. ***** Based on Ofcom data.
Varicon
This platform provides construction contractors with real-time project cost visibility by connecting field and office teams. It's designed to address major cost management issues for site and office staff, based on industry best practices to minimize process changes.
- Cloud-based cost management
- Real-time project cost visibility
- Connects field and office
- Industry best practices
- Minimizes process changes
Read full descriptionHide full description
Varicon is a cloud-based construction cost management platform connecting the field with the office to provide construction contractor real-time visibility into their project cost. Varicon was co-developed with the construction industry to overcome the major cost management issues for site and office based staff. The Varicon platform is based on industry best practices, so change from your existing processes is minimised.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Varicon at Free against Antenna Mate's $2.99. Varicon also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.0) and review sentiment (100% vs 70%). Antenna Mate's advantage is ratings volume (4 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Varicon is free to download; Antenna Mate costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Varicon holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Antenna Mate's written reviews are positive against 100% of Varicon's.
Antenna Mate ships an update every 3 months, Varicon weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Antenna Mate | Varicon |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 1.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 69.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 139 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tate Johnson | Varicon Pty Ltd |
Customer experience
Antenna Mate
Varicon
Bugs and requests
Antenna Mate
Reported bugs
18 issues- Pointer doesn't move
- Direction is unstable and points in close but varying lines
- App points in reverse direction
- Direction is unstable
- Poor direction, turn phone around and direction changes
Show 13 moreShow fewer
- Can't get work
- Doesn't work anymore on new iPad
- Arrow shows consistently different direction
- No longer works on iPad without cellular
- Wont change location
- It pointed 90deg away from transmitter
- Direction changes when phone is turned
- No actual compass setting
- Pointer is pointing in a different direction
- App only supported in UK and Australia
- No known broadcast in this area
- Doesn't work in the US
- Doesn't work at all
Requested features
8 requests- Map feature
- FM radio services version
- Signal strength indicator on arrow
- Map of transmitters
- More bells and whistles
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Mobile phone transmission support
- Dark mode
- Advanced analytics
Varicon
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Antenna Mate
No in-app purchases
Varicon
No in-app purchases









