Comparison

iFTx vs K4 Control for Elecraft K4

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

Head to head
About

iFTx

This app enables seamless communication using FT8 and FT4 digital modes directly from your iOS device. Enjoy portable digital connections, effortless operation with a user-friendly interface, and reliable performance for global contact.

Highlights
  • FT8 and FT4 digital modes
  • Portable digital communication
  • Global operator connections
  • User-friendly interface
  • Integrated QSO logging
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Introducing iFTx: The Essential iOS App for FT8 and FT4 Digital Modes! - Seamlessly Engage: iFTx brings FT8 and FT4 digital modes to your iOS device, enabling convenient and portable digital communication. - Anytime, Anywhere: Enjoy the flexibility to connect with operators globally from the comfort of your iOS device. - Effortless Operation: Navigate the user-friendly interface for quick setup and real-time messaging. - Reliable Performance: Experience clear signals and adapt to changing propagation conditions with ease. - Log Your Success: Keep track of your contacts effortlessly with integrated QSO logging.

About

K4 Control for Elecraft K4

Control your Elecraft K4 transceiver remotely from your iPad. Operate locally or over the internet, with integrated digital modes, logging, and advanced visual features.

Highlights
  • Full remote transceiver control
  • Integrated digital modes (FT8, FT4, CW, SSTV)
  • Comprehensive logbook with ADIF support
  • Dual VFO and waterfall displays
  • DX-Cluster integration and alerts
  • Visual band mapping and callsign data
Features
Read full description

Your Elecraft K4, K4D or K4HD on your iPhone and iPad: at home over Wi-Fi or from anywhere over the internet. Made by a ham, for hams, with personal support included. K4-Control connects to the K4's built-in network interface, at home and over the internet. No extra hardware, no PC and no extra software needed. WORKS WITH ■ Elecraft K4, K4D and K4HD, connected to your network by cable The app connects over the network only. A USB cable connection is not supported. OPERATE ■ Spectrum scope and waterfall with band plan, DX Cluster and FT8 spots ■ VFO A and B with the sub receiver and both panadapters, filters, preamp, attenuator, NB, NR, notch, AGC and more ■ Compact floating panels: tuning, PTT, CW, memories, tune stack, macros, Command Bar, DTMF, RIT / ∆TX ■ Your iPhone or iPad as microphone and speaker; the radio keeps playing in the background ■ Ready for iPhone Duo, iPad split screen and Apple Vision Pro MODES ■ FT8-Improved with AutoAnswer and AutoCQ, plus the classic FT8 ■ JS8 keyboard chat ■ CW with decoder, keyer, ESM and CW keyboard: send CW remotely, by keyboard or with a paddle on a CTR2 or MIDI controller ■ Speech: incoming voice transcribed and translated, your typed text sent as speech ■ SSTV, HF-Fax, APRS and WSPR FT8-Improved, JS8, Speech and WSPR need iOS 26. TOOLS ■ Logbook with ADIF import and export, shared via iCloud with SmartSDR, SDR-Control, FT-Control and TS-Control, on iPhone, iPad and Mac ■ DX Cluster with alerts, POTA, PSK Reporter, Call Lookup, Band Plan, Network Stats, Memories ■ Controllers: MIDI, CTR2, HaliKey, Pryme, Flic ■ 4O3A Genius devices, Ultra Beam antennas, rotators and relay boards MADE BY A HAM Made by Marcus, DL8MRE, who has been developing apps for Apple devices since 2009 and uses this app every day in his own shack, where all supported radios are on the desk. Personal online support and a detailed manual are included. Updates with new modes and features are free: no subscription, no in-app purchases. WHAT YOU NEED ■ An Elecraft K4, K4D or K4HD on your network, with its remote access password set ■ An iPhone or iPad with iOS 18 or later ■ For use over the internet: access to your home network from outside (see the manual) Manual: https://go-to.me/k4-control-ios-manual More apps: https://ham-radio-apps.com K4-Control is developed independently and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elecraft.

Screenshots

iFTx4 screens
K4 Control for Elecraft K44 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iFTx at $1.99 against K4 Control for Elecraft K4's $89.99. iFTx also leads on ratings volume (70 vs 6) and chart position (#123 vs unranked). K4 Control for Elecraft K4's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

iFTx costs $1.99 and K4 Control for Elecraft K4 $89.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

K4 Control for Elecraft K4 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iFTx has 70 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of iFTx's written reviews are positive against 100% of K4 Control for Elecraft K4's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iFTx ships an update every 6 months, K4 Control for Elecraft K4 fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
iFTx versus K4 Control for Elecraft K4: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriFTxK4 Control for Elecraft K4
Price$1.99 — better$89.99
Rating4.2 (70 ratings)4.8 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings70 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#123 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristoph NadigMarcus Roskosch

Customer experience

iFTx

All ratings70 ratings
Positive75.7%
Neutral18.6%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews85 reviews
Positive71.8%
Neutral18.8%
Negative9.4%

K4 Control for Elecraft K4

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

iFTx

No in-app purchases

None

K4 Control for Elecraft K4

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iFTx free?
iFTx costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is K4 Control for Elecraft K4 free?
K4 Control for Elecraft K4 costs $89.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iFTx or K4 Control for Elecraft K4?
K4 Control for Elecraft K4 is rated higher. iFTx averages 4.2 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while K4 Control for Elecraft K4 averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.
Do iFTx or K4 Control for Elecraft K4 have ads?
Neither iFTx nor K4 Control for Elecraft K4 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iFTx or K4 Control for Elecraft K4?
iFTx ships an update every 6 months, and K4 Control for Elecraft K4 fortnightly. Most recently, iFTx was updated on October 30, 2026 and K4 Control for Elecraft K4 on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons