Comparison

iFTx vs Handi

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

Handi

This app serves as a central hub for amateur radio operators, enabling them to connect their transceivers to mobile devices. It facilitates radio programming, messaging, mapping, and packet-radio communications.

Highlights
  • Radio channel management
  • APRS messaging
  • Winlink email
  • Packet terminal
  • Interactive map
  • File exchange
Features
Read full description

HTCommander is a comprehensive companion for amateur radio operators using EchoLink or supported Bluetooth-enabled transceivers. Connect your radio to your iPhone or iPad and manage programming, messaging, mapping, and packet-radio communications from one application. KEY FEATURES - Configure, organize, import, and export radio channels - Send and receive APRS messages - Inspect packet details and select APRS routing paths - Request weather reports and use supported APRS services - Display APRS stations and position reports on an interactive map - Compose, send, and receive Winlink email with attachments - Communicate through the packet terminal - Operate a built-in bulletin board system - Capture and decode received packets - Manage APRS, Winlink, and terminal contacts - Use supported radio GPS information - Exchange files over compatible packet-radio links SUPPORTED RADIOS HTCommander supports selected models from BTECH, Radioddity, Vero, and Radtel, including the UV-Pro, UV-50Pro, GA-5WB, DB50-B Mini, VR-N75, VR-N76, VR-N7500, VR-N7600, and RT-660. An amateur radio license is required to transmit. Operators are responsible for following local regulations, band plans, and licensing requirements.

Screenshots

iFTx4 screens
Handi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Handi at Free against iFTx's $1.99. Handi also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 months). iFTx's advantage is ratings volume (70 vs 5) and chart position (#79 vs unranked). On review sentiment, 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

Handi is free to download; iFTx costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Handi holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iFTx has 70 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of iFTx's written reviews are positive against 67% of Handi's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iFTx ships an update every 6 months, Handi every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
iFTx versus Handi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriFTxHandi
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (70 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.8% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings70 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#79 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB62 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristoph NadigYlian Saint-Hilaire

Customer experience

iFTx

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

Handi

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

iFTx

No in-app purchases

None

Handi

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iFTx free?
iFTx costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Handi free?
Handi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iFTx or Handi?
Handi is rated higher. iFTx averages 4.2 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Handi averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do iFTx or Handi have ads?
Neither iFTx nor Handi shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iFTx or Handi?
iFTx ships an update every 6 months, and Handi every 2 days. Most recently, iFTx was updated on October 25, 2026 and Handi on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons