PSKer vs FT8 Decoder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PSKer
This application functions as a PSK31 receiver and transmitter for amateur radio enthusiasts. It offers features like automatic frequency locking, configurable macros for quick messaging, and a real-time sonogram with zoom.
- PSK31 send/receive
- Universal app
- Configurable macros
- Automatic frequency locking
- Realtime sonogram w/zoom
- Mic/line-in receive, speaker/line-out transmit
Read full descriptionHide full description
PSKer is a PSK31 receiver and transmitter. Features: * PSK31 send/receive * Universal app * Landscape mode on the iPad, Portrait mode on the iPhone/iPad * Configurable macros for common messages (CQ, ...) * Automatic frequency locking * Realtime sonogram w/zoom view * Support for mic and line-in receive, and speaker-out/line-out transmission. Note the desktop version is free and can be downloaded at http://ke7sch.net/psker/PSKer.zip You can run the iOS version on your desktop too if you like.
FT8 Decoder
This application decodes FT8 digital signals from amateur radio bands. It can process audio from external sources or directly from an SSB radio or SDR. The app also generates FT8 modulated audio for experimentation.
- Decodes FT8 8FSK modulated signals
- Processes external audio or SDR sound
- Supports standard callsigns and 13-character messages
- Generates FT8 message audio
- Experiment with sending and receiving FT8 audio
Read full descriptionHide full description
An FT8 decoder. FT8 is a weak signal digital mode, currently very popular in the amateur radio HF shortwave bands. The ft8d app allows decoding FT8 8FSK modulated signals contained in externally provided audio or sound from an SSB radio or SDR. The app supports Level 1 decoding of messages with standard callsigns or 13 character free text messages. The app can also generate standard FT8 message audio, so can be used to experiment with sending and receiving FT8 encoded and modulated audio. The app does NOT perform Auto-sequencing, or decode long hashed callsigns.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: FT8 Decoder at 4.3 against PSKer's 1.8. FT8 Decoder also leads on price ($1.99 vs $2.99) and iOS requirement (15.4 vs 17.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence 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
PSKer costs $2.99 and FT8 Decoder $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
FT8 Decoder holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of PSKer's written reviews are positive against 50% of FT8 Decoder's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
PSKer ships an update every 31 months, FT8 Decoder every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PSKer | FT8 Decoder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 1.8 (22 ratings) | 4.3 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 54.7% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 22 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 31 months | Every 18 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mark Oskin | HotPaw Productions |
Customer experience
PSKer
FT8 Decoder
In-app purchases
PSKer
No in-app purchases
FT8 Decoder
No in-app purchases
