Comparison

iFTx vs QRV

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
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

QRV

This app consolidates essential ham radio tools for efficient operation and DX success. It provides real-time band conditions, call sign lookups, DXpedition tracking, and built-in calculators. Premium features offer live spots and customized notifications.

Highlights
  • Real-time band conditions
  • Call sign lookup (QRZ/HamQTH)
  • DXpedition calendar and alerts
  • POTA spot viewing
  • Band plans
  • Built-in calculators
  • Glanceable Apple Watch data
Features
Read full description

QRV (I am ready) is your essential ham radio multitool built for DX success and maximum operating efficiency. Stop juggling apps! QRV aggregates critical tools and reliable, fast-updated data into one single, clean platform. Available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. --- QRV is designed to get you the information you need quickly, whether you are in the field or at the shack: - Real-time Band Conditions: Access live propagation data from HamQSL to find the optimal frequency. - Universal Search: Look up a callsign, jump to a DXCC entity by name or prefix, or check your band plan for a frequency — all from one place. - Cross-Device Sync: Favorites, frequency memories, settings and alerts follow you — through iCloud, or with a free sign-in wherever you use QRV. - My Frequencies: Save important frequencies (weekly nets, calling channels, and more) with name, mode, and notes. - Comprehensive Call Sign Lookup: Search easily via QRZ and/or HamQTH. - QRZ QSO Confirmation: See at a glance which bands you've worked a station on, across every QRZ logbook you own. - DXpedition Calendar: Track active and upcoming DXpeditions worldwide — see local spots and worldwide on-air activity side by side. - POTA Spots: Browse live Parks on the Air activations with band, mode, and search filters. - Band Plans: Detailed frequency allocations for 22 countries across North America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania — available in English and a native language - Glanceable data on the Apple Watch. See spots, the top bands, POTA stats, and solar conditions on your wrist. - Built-in Calculators: Antenna lengths (dipole, Slim Jim, J-Pole), coax & feedline loss, battery runtime, and power calculations. - Beginner-Friendly Reference: Q-codes, CW (Morse code) with audio, Prosigns, RST, APRS commands, Maidenhead grids, and more. - Full VoiceOver support and colorblind-friendly design. Note: Full QRZ data requires an XML and/or API subscription. Note: The Apple Watch app requires watchOS 11 (Apple Watch Series 6 or later, SE 2nd generation, or Ultra). Earlier watches aren't supported. --- PREMIUM FEATURES - Live Spots: Get reliable, high-speed spot delivery from PSK Reporter. - Rover Mode: Temporarily view live spots and band activity for any grid square without moving — widgets, Apple Watch, and alerts all follow the grid you choose, then revert automatically. - Lightning Proximity Alerts: Get warned when lightning is detected near your station so you can disconnect in time — fixed location or GPS-following, with an adjustable radius. - Customized Notifications: Set alerts for bands, DXCCs, DXpeditions, and individual callsigns with configurable thresholds. - Home Screen Widgets: Check band conditions at a glance without opening the app. - DXpedition Alerts: Get notified when your tracked DXpeditions are spotted. - Callsign Alerts: Get notified when a specific callsign is spotted from your location. - Logbook-Aware Alerts: DXCC and Callsign alerts auto-manage based on your QSO/QSL history from Wavelog or QRZ Logbook. Why Premium? These features require robust infrastructure: - I run dedicated servers to aggregate PSK Reporter data, process notifications, serve band conditions, and provide DXpedition info. - This delivers faster, more reliable data than direct API polling while being a good steward to upstream services like N1DQ's PSK Reporter. - Premium subscriptions help cover ongoing server and infrastructure costs. Your subscription is shared between all versions of the app. --- Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

iFTx4 screens
QRV4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: QRV at Free against iFTx's $1.99. QRV also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months). iFTx's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). On ratings volume, ads 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

QRV is free to download; iFTx costs $1.99 up front. QRV sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. iFTx asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

QRV holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70 and 80 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of iFTx's written reviews are positive against 82% of QRV's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iFTx ships an update every 6 months, QRV weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
iFTx versus QRV: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriFTxQRV
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (70 ratings)4.9 (80 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.8% of reviews81.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7080 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristoph NadigJoseph Iannazzone

Customer experience

iFTx

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

QRV

All ratings80 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral1.3%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive81.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative9.1%

In-app purchases

None

iFTx

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

QRV

Subscriptions2
  • QRV Premium - Monthly$2.991 Month
  • QRV Premium - Annual$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • QRV Premium - Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is iFTx free?
iFTx costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is QRV free?
QRV is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iFTx or QRV?
QRV is rated higher. iFTx averages 4.2 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while QRV averages 4.9 from 80 ratings.
Do iFTx or QRV have ads?
Neither iFTx nor QRV shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iFTx or QRV?
iFTx ships an update every 6 months, and QRV weekly. Most recently, iFTx was updated on October 30, 2026 and QRV on October 28, 2026.

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