Comparison

CB vs HamSphere 5.0

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

Head to head
About

CB

Connect with people worldwide through a simulated CB radio experience. Listen to broadcasts for free and engage in real-time conversations. Unlock enhanced broadcasting features with an in-app purchase.

Highlights
  • Listen to global broadcasts for free
  • Unlimited range voice communication
  • Simulated CB radio and walkie-talkie
  • Approximate location sharing for privacy
  • Unlock longer broadcasts and remove delays
  • Social networking for real conversations
Features
Read full description

CB allows you to listen to CB app broadcasters for free, anywhere in the world. At its core, the CB app is designed to function like an old-fashioned Citizen's Band radio, but with unlimited range. An in-app purchase unlocks broadcasting so you can get in on the fun! Your privacy and safety are very important to us at CB. Because of this, your exact location on the CB map will NEVER show up to other users. Users can only see an approximate location for others (red, green, gold, and purple pins). This is because we intentionally and randomly move your pin on the map, somewhere within 50-150 miles of your actual location. What CB is: • A fun way to meet new people and talk to friends all over the world. • A social network for people who enjoy the personal touch of real conversation. • An easy-to-use simulation of a ham radio, a CB radio, and a walkie-talkie, all in one. What CB is not: •CB does not use Citizen's Band radio frequencies. It uses the internet. •CB is not a police radio scanner. •CB can NOT show you another user’s exact location! How it works: 1. Download the app and open it. 2. Listen to what other people have to say. 3. Press and hold your finger anywhere on the screen to make your broadcast! 4. Free users can broadcast up to 10-seconds, with a 10-second delay between broadcasts. Purchase a subscription to remove the delay and allow longer broadcasts. See below for details about the in-app purchases of auto-renewing subscriptions. And there's much, much more! We would love to hear your feedback! The CB team regularly checks in on CB, and you can Tweet us at @TheCBApp or reach us on our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/TheCBApp. The free version allows for unlimited listening, and allows you to broadcast up to 10 seconds at a time with a 10-second delay between broadcasts. The free version also includes ad banners for other apps from this developer, and potentially other links to indie creators. All subscription options remove banner ads and all remove the delay between broadcasts, as well as... Basic - $0.99 for three months (about a penny a day) - Gives you 15-second broadcasts. Pro - $2.99 for three months (about a dollar a month) - Gives you 30-second broadcasts. Executive - $9.99 for six months (less than $2 a month) - Gives you 60-second broadcasts. Royal - $35.99 annually (about $3 a month) - Gives you broadcasts up to 60 minutes! When you subscribe, payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. You can manage your subscriptions, and turn off auto-renewal by going to your Account Settings after purchase. At the moment, we're not offering a free trial, but if we add that, the way it works is that any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Please see our Terms of Use at https://www.thecbapp.com/terms.html Please see our privacy policy, including information about how your location data is used, at https://www.thecbapp.com/privacy.html

About

HamSphere 5.0

This virtual ham radio transceiver simulates HF bands from 10-160m, including 6m, 2m, and 70cm. It features USB, LSB, and CW modes, power settings, and built-in audio filters. Additional instruments can be unlocked via in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Virtual HF bands (10-160m)
  • 6m, 2m, and 70cm bands
  • USB, LSB, and CW modes
  • Built-in audio filters
  • Power setting
  • In-app purchase instrument expansions
Features
Read full description

This handheld Amateur Radio transceiver offers 10-160m virtual HamSphere HF bands including 6m, 2m and 70cm. It comes with a fully working 30 day trial. The transceiver has three built in audio filters, USB, LSB and CW Modes, power setting. The transceiver can be expanded with a number of useful instruments as in-app-purchases.

Screenshots

CB4 screens
HamSphere 5.04 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: HamSphere 5.0 at 3.9 against CB's 2.3. HamSphere 5.0 also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). CB's advantage is ratings volume (63 vs 7) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. CB sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 3 months and HamSphere 5.0 sells 30 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HamSphere 5.0 holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CB has 63 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of CB's written reviews are positive against 38% of HamSphere 5.0's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CB ships an update fortnightly, HamSphere 5.0 monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
CB versus HamSphere 5.0: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCBHamSphere 5.0
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (63 ratings)3.9 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews46.0% of reviews — better37.5% of reviews
Number of ratings63 — better7
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB4 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperBenjamin CarrollHamSphere AB

Customer experience

CB

All ratings63 ratings
Positive25.4%
Neutral11.1%
Negative63.5%
Written reviews126 reviews
Positive46.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative50.0%

HamSphere 5.0

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative56.3%

Bugs and requests

CB

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • App crashes on startup or during use
  • Audio not working or no voices heard
  • Headphones not recognized after app switch
  • Screen turns black and app won't open
  • App closes when phone display turns off
Show 5 more
  • Random routing to speaker instead of headphones
  • Paid status shows but app won't function
  • Restore purchases links not working
  • Button presses unresponsive
  • App freezes and jams frequently

Requested features

11 requests
  • Background audio playback without screen on
  • Better tutorial or FAQ documentation
  • User profile creation with persistent handle names
  • Screen scroll functionality during broadcast
  • CB time frame for unified time reference
Show 6 more
  • Language filtering for non-English channels
  • Improved headphone auto-detection
  • Screen lock prevention while app is active
  • Better moderation and community management tools
  • Real CB radio connection capability
  • Country-specific channel filtering

HamSphere 5.0

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

11 purchases

CB

Subscriptions2
  • Basic$0.993 Months
  • Pro$2.993 Months
One-time9
  • Unlock Talk and MoreFree
  • Try All CB Features for a Week$0.99
  • Buy Longer Broadcasts!$0.99
Show 6 more
  • One Month Trial!$0.99
  • Premium Broadcasts Only$2.99
  • Six Month Unlock!$2.99
  • Buy All Features Forever - DISCOUNTED!$4.99
  • CB Combo Pack 1$9.99
  • All Features Forever!$12.99
30 purchases

HamSphere 5.0

One-time30
  • 3el T-yagi E (30m)$4.99
  • 3el T-yagi E (40m)$4.99
  • 3el T-yagi W (20m)$4.99
Show 27 more
  • 3el T-yagi E (20m)$4.99
  • G5RV North-South (10-160m)$4.99
  • J-Pole (12m)$6.99
  • J-Pole (17m)$6.99
  • Plugizer MBP009$6.99
  • Lookup Box MBP011$6.99
  • J-Pole (11m)$6.99
  • J-Pole (20m)$6.99
  • Log Book MBP003$6.99
  • DX-Monitor MBP008$6.99
  • Waterfall MBP002$6.99
  • Antenna Selector MBP004$6.99
  • Antenna Rotator MBP005$6.99
  • Oscilloscope MBP006$6.99
  • DX-Cluster MBP010$6.99
  • 8-Band Omni Whip (10-40m)$6.99
  • J-Pole (10m)$6.99
  • G5RV East-West (10-160m)$6.99
  • Moxon (20m)$14.99
  • Moxon (12m)$14.99
  • Moxon (17m)$14.99
  • Moxon (10m)$14.99
  • Moxon (11m)$14.99
  • Bruce Array (60m)$24.99
  • Bruce Array (80m)$24.99
  • VU2NSB Dangler (20,17, 12,10m)$29.99
  • HamSphere Subscription$29.99

Questions

Is CB free?
CB is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HamSphere 5.0 free?
HamSphere 5.0 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CB or HamSphere 5.0?
HamSphere 5.0 is rated higher. CB averages 2.3 out of 5 from 63 ratings, while HamSphere 5.0 averages 3.9 from 7 ratings.
Do CB or HamSphere 5.0 have ads?
Neither CB nor HamSphere 5.0 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CB or HamSphere 5.0?
CB ships an update fortnightly, and HamSphere 5.0 monthly. Most recently, CB was updated on September 30, 2026 and HamSphere 5.0 on September 23, 2026.

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