Morse Elmer vs SDR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Morse Elmer
Learn Morse Code effectively with this app. It utilizes proven methods like the Koch Method and Farnsworth spacing to accelerate your learning. Track your progress with detailed graphs and train anytime to become proficient.
- Learn Morse Code
- Koch Method training
- Farnsworth spacing
- Progress tracking
- Graphical results
- On-the-go training
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Morse Elmer is an app to help you learn Morse Code. Morse Elmer uses two well established methods to help you learn: The Koch Method and Farnsworth spacing. As you train Morse Elmer keeps track of your results, graphing them so you can monitor your progress. With Morse Elmer on your iOS device you'll have the tools to train whenever you want and the more frequently you train the quicker you'll become proficient. Learn more at: http://morseelmer.blogspot.com/
SDR
Control your Icom transceiver remotely or locally from your iPhone. Operate in all modes, log QSOs, and utilize integrated digital modes like FT8/FT4 and SSTV. No extra hardware is needed for global access.
- Remote transceiver operation
- All mode control
- Auto logging logbook
- Integrated FT8/FT4 tool
- Integrated SSTV receiver
- Integrated CW decoder and keyer
- DX-Cluster integration
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Software Defined Radio Client for Icom Transceivers and your iPhone SDR-Control Mobile is a full featured iPhone App to operate your Icom Transceiver at home or from around the world without additional Hard- or Software. Important: This App requires one of the following Icom Transceivers: IC-705, IC-7610, IC-9700, IC-7760 or the IC-R8600 Receiver or the new IC-7300 MK2 FACTS AND FEATURES: ■ Native iOS 26 app, backward compatible to iOS 17 ■ Compatible with any iPhone ■ Complete operation of your Icom Transceiver in all modes ■ Use the App local or to remote access of your Transceiver from any place without additional Hard- or Software ■ Logbook with auto logging, ADIF Im-/Export ■ UDP Log submission when using external logging software ■ Integrated full featured FT8 / FT4 Tool ■ Integrated SSTV receiver (NEW) ■ Integrated CW Decoder ■ Integrated CW Keyer ■ DX-Cluster integration ■ Call sign lookup integrated ■ Displays Calls on Map with heading and distance information ■ And much more... WHAT YOU NEED: - An Icom IC-705, IC-7610, IC-9700 or IC-7760 Transceiver or IC-R8600 Receiver or the new IC-7300 MK2 - The Transceiver needs to be connected to your Network (WiFi or LAN) - No USB cable needed or supported - An iPhone that runs at least iOS 17 Find out more here: https://ham-radio-apps.com Read the Manual: http://go-to.me/sdrcontrol-mobile-manual
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Morse Elmer at $0.99 against SDR's $44.99. SDR's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume 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
Morse Elmer costs $0.99 and SDR $44.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Morse Elmer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 192 and 66 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of Morse Elmer's written reviews are positive against 84% of SDR's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Morse Elmer ships an update every 2 months, SDR every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Morse Elmer | SDR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $44.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (192 ratings) — better | 4.6 (66 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 81.2% of reviews | 84.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 192 — better | 66 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #192 | #118 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 17 MB | 55 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Morgan Jones | Marcus Roskosch |
Customer experience
Morse Elmer
SDR
User reviews
Morse Elmer
From 192 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 🎯 Effective Farnsworth and Koch learning methods
- 📱 Portable practice anywhere on iPhone/iPad
- ⚙️ Highly customizable speed and spacing controls
- 📊 Progress tracking and session scoring
Room to improve
- 📝 Requires pen and paper for copying
- 🐛 Manual self-scoring system (honor-based)
- 📱 Limited to 10-minute maximum sessions
- 🔊 Low volume output on some devices
- ⚙️ Twitchy Farnsworth spacing slider
SDR
From 66 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works perfectly with ICOM radios
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🌟 Feature-rich and comprehensive
- 💯 Stable and reliable performance
- 📱 Great for remote operation
Room to improve
- 🐛 FT8 decoding issues (lower signal levels)
- 🐛 Dialogs do not scale with larger text setting
- 🐛 UI elements can be cramped on iPhone
- 🐛 Some buttons are small and hard to press
- 🐛 Frequency display overlaps buttons
Bugs and requests
Morse Elmer
Reported bugs
7 issues- Incorrect Morse code for some letters
- Missing option to add letters (iOS 15+)
- Text not displaying in settings dialog (iPad Air)
- Drops last character in sequence reporting
- Volume extremely low on headphone/Bluetooth
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- App compatibility issues with current iOS versions
- Support link missing from app
Requested features
13 requests- Higher speed support (beyond current limits)
- Keyboard input mode for automatic scoring
- Sending/keying practice capability
- Extended session duration (30+ minutes)
- Morse code reference chart in-app
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Variable temperature numbers in QSO mode
- More diverse QTH locations
- Standard iOS file picker integration
- File deletion and organization options
- Error-based scoring option
- Practice timer reset functionality
- Head copy practice mode
- Custom word list creation
SDR
Reported bugs
12 issues- Dialogs do not scale with larger text setting
- Frequency display overlaps buttons
- FT8 decoding issues (lower signal levels than WSJTX)
- App crashes and leaves radio in transmit
- Logbook export not functional after update
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- Function button for horizontal scrolling not fully displayed
- FT8 decode is useless and unreliable
- Messed up radio, requiring reset
- RX audio unusable outside home network (prior to 1.5.1)
- Struggles with audio RX packets on remote cellular networks
- Cannot work over mobile data with certain carriers (EE)
- FT8 alerts sound but don't display
Requested features
14 requests- Develop for IC-7800
- CarPlay support
- Apple Watch add-on
- Windows version
- JS8call support
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- More digital modes
- Display memory bank names
- Initiate memory scan from app
- WSPR implementation
- Tool for WSPR
- More FT8/FT4 features (e.g., setting transmit frequency directly in FT8 view)
- Send image to unit
- KISS TNC support
- Control digital modes (reflectors, etc.)
In-app purchases
Morse Elmer
No in-app purchases
SDR
No in-app purchases
