# Radio ID vs rtl_tcp SDR

The clearest difference is price: Radio ID at $0.99 against rtl_tcp SDR's $12.99. Radio ID also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 40%). rtl_tcp SDR's advantage is rating (3.9 vs 3.7). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Radio ID costs $0.99 and rtl_tcp SDR $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

rtl_tcp SDR holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 46 and 32 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Radio ID's written reviews are positive against 40% of rtl_tcp SDR's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Radio ID ships an update every 7 months, rtl_tcp SDR every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Radio ID | rtl_tcp SDR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $12.99 |
| Rating | [3.7 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/radio-id/id640429366/reviews) | **[3.9 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtl-tcp-sdr/id1351164646/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **46** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | **64.3% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 1 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthew Kaufman](https://appshunter.io/developer/640429469) | [HotPaw Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/285074853) |

## What reviewers say

### Radio ID

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/radio-id/id640429366)

This utility decodes two-way radio transmissions using industry-standard formats like Motorola MDC-1200, GE STAR, and Kenwood FleetSync. It also supports QuickCall II signaling, making it an essential tool for radio technicians and scanner enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Decodes Motorola MDC-1200, Decodes GE STAR, Decodes Kenwood FleetSync, Decodes QuickCall II signaling, Useful for radio technicians, Helpful for scanner listeners

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### rtl_tcp SDR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtl-tcp-sdr/id1351164646)

This app acts as a software-defined radio receiver for iOS devices, allowing you to listen to various radio signals and view RF spectrum data. It connects to external SDR peripherals via a network protocol, requiring a separate server setup.

**Highlights:** Listen to AM, FM, SSB, CW signals, View RF spectrum and waterfall, Connect to networked RTL-SDR peripherals, Supports Airspy HF+, SDRPlay, LimeSDR Mini, Direct connection to Hermes Lite 2

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Radio ID free?

Radio ID costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is rtl_tcp SDR free?

rtl_tcp SDR costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Radio ID or rtl_tcp SDR?

rtl_tcp SDR is rated higher. Radio ID averages 3.7 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while rtl_tcp SDR averages 3.9 from 32 ratings.

### Do Radio ID or rtl_tcp SDR have ads?

Neither Radio ID nor rtl_tcp SDR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Radio ID or rtl_tcp SDR?

Radio ID ships an update every 7 months, and rtl_tcp SDR every 4 months. Most recently, Radio ID was updated on November 1, 2026 and rtl_tcp SDR on November 2, 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.*