# CB vs HamSphere 5.0

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.

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.

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.

CB ships an update fortnightly, HamSphere 5.0 monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CB | HamSphere 5.0 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cb/id576669122/reviews) | **[3.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamsphere-50/id6447489061/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **63** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **46.0% of reviews** | 37.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Benjamin Carroll](https://appshunter.io/developer/440013551) | [HamSphere AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496331754) |

## What reviewers say

### CB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cb/id576669122)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic | $0.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| Unlock Talk and More | Free | one-time |
| Try All CB Features for a Week | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy Longer Broadcasts! | $0.99 | one-time |
| One Month Trial! | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium Broadcasts Only | $2.99 | one-time |
| Six Month Unlock! | $2.99 | one-time |
| Buy All Features Forever - DISCOUNTED! | $4.99 | one-time |
| CB Combo Pack 1 | $9.99 | one-time |
| All Features Forever! | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌍 Global community connecting people worldwide
- 👥 Friendly and welcoming user base (when respectful)
- 💬 Easy-to-use interface for communication
- 🎙️ Authentic CB radio experience on mobile
- 🔄 Frequent app updates and improvements

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👥 Toxic and unwelcoming community toward newcomers
- 🔊 No active users or very low user base currently
- 💰 Misleading free-to-play model with paywalls
- 🎙️ Non-functional audio in many cases
- ⏱️ Significant delay in message delivery

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### HamSphere 5.0

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamsphere-50/id6447489061)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (30)**

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


## Frequently asked 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 October 8, 2026 and HamSphere 5.0 on September 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*