Comparison

Propagation Tools vs HamSat

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

Head to head
About

Propagation Tools

Features
Read full description

Propagation tools to include Free Space Loss, Link Margin, UHF LOS, EIRP, Fade Margin and graphs

About

HamSat

Track satellite passes with real-time azimuth, elevation, and Doppler-corrected frequencies. Features an Apple Watch companion for wrist-based aiming and pass tracking, and allows users to stamp photos with operational data.

Highlights
  • Apple Watch companion for pass tracking and antenna aiming
  • Live sky dome with real-time satellite arcs
  • Aim mode with phone compass and haptic feedback
  • Doppler-corrected frequencies for operating during passes
  • Photo stamping with callsign, grid, satellite, and UTC time
  • Offline satellite tracking and propagation
  • Geostationary satellite tracking
Features
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HamSat is the satellite tracker built for amateur radio operators — with an Apple Watch companion on your wrist and, new in 2.1, a sked planner that finds the passes you and another operator can work together. NEW — SKED PLANNER (Pro) • Plan a contact, not just a pass: enter another operator's grid square and find every window where a satellite sees you both • Set a minimum elevation for each end of the link — a window only counts if it's workable at both stations • One tap adds the sked to your calendar with the overlap times, a 10-minute reminder, and the radio setup PLAN AHEAD • Pass predictions up to 7 days out • Add any pass to Apple Calendar — times, reminder, and frequencies in the notes. HamSat never reads your calendar. • Choose your pass-alert tone — including a CW "HI" in Morse APPLE WATCH (Pro) • Your next favorite pass on your wrist: live azimuth, elevation, Doppler-corrected frequencies, and a countdown to AOS • Guided wrist-aim — follow an arrow straight to the satellite and feel a haptic tap the instant you're locked on. Aim your antenna without looking at a screen, hands free for the radio. • Propagated on the watch itself, so it keeps tracking even when your phone is out of range PASS TRACKING • Live sky dome with the satellite's arc and a glyph riding it in real time • Fullscreen Live tracker — big AZ/EL, Doppler-corrected frequencies, landscape split-pane • Aim mode uses your phone's compass to show where you're pointing — no forced figure-8 calibration, just point and go • Apple Maps ground track with horizon footprint OPERATING DURING A PASS • Doppler-corrected RX (and TX for SSB/linear) dial frequencies, updated every second • 10-minute and AOS notifications that deep-link straight to the pass • Live Activity + Dynamic Island on the lock screen, elevation and azimuth ticking live • Bell badge on any pass you've set an alert for ROVER PROOF PHOTOS • Stamp a photo at your site with your callsign, grid, satellite, and UTC time — proof of where you were on the air • Fresh photo or one from your library; share to X, Messages, AirDrop — or submit for the AMSAT Rover Award ALWAYS OVERHEAD (free) • Lists any geostationary satellite in your sky — QO-100 (Es'hail 2) for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East • "Find it in the sky" — point your phone and check your line-of-sight to the bird is clear • No Pro required for geostationary satellites SATELLITE CATALOG • Friendly designations everywhere — SO-50, AO-91, RS-44, JO-97 — with launch names as subtitles • Search by name or NORAD ID • Curated radio data for the most-worked birds, plus live SatNOGS for the long tail — kept fresh by HamSat's catalog service • Filter by mode (FM, linear, beacon, data, telemetry) ACCURATE & OFFLINE • Full SGP4 propagation on-device — the model the pros use, so times and positions match apps like ISS Detector • Works completely offline — every pass, sky dome, ground track, and Doppler computed locally. No API keys, no rate limits. • Always-fresh orbital data via HamSat's catalog service, with direct CelesTrak/AMSAT fallback — or pin a source • Settings shows how fresh your orbital data is PRIVACY-FIRST • Your location stays on-device — nothing about you is sent to any server • Orbital data from public sources (CelesTrak, AMSAT, SatNOGS) • No accounts, no tracking, no ads HamSat Pro — the field operator's toolkit • Sked planner — mutual passes with any partner grid • Apple Watch tracking & guided wrist-aim • Fullscreen Live tracker with second-by-second Doppler (landscape split-pane) • Live in-pass Doppler — corrected RX/TX at AOS, max, and LOS • Overhead-now live tracker for your favorites • Unlimited scheduled alerts — not just three • Shareable Rover proof photos One-time purchase, no subscription. 73 — and good DX!

Screenshots

Propagation Tools4 screens
HamSat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HamSat at Free against Propagation Tools's $0.29. HamSat also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 9 months). Propagation Tools's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.4). On 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

HamSat is free to download; Propagation Tools costs $0.29 up front. HamSat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Propagation Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Propagation Tools ships an update every 9 months, HamSat every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Propagation Tools versus HamSat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPropagation ToolsHamSat
Price$0.29Free — better
Rating—4.5 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—6 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.4
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJeff CurtisVasco Barreiros

In-app purchases

None

Propagation Tools

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

HamSat

One-time1
  • HamSat Pro$9.99

Questions

Is Propagation Tools free?
Propagation Tools costs $0.29, with no in-app purchases.
Is HamSat free?
HamSat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Propagation Tools or HamSat have ads?
Neither Propagation Tools nor HamSat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Propagation Tools or HamSat?
Propagation Tools ships an update every 9 months, and HamSat every 2 days. Most recently, Propagation Tools was updated on October 27, 2026 and HamSat on October 31, 2026.

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