Comparison

HamSphere 5.0 vs TrainTracker App

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

Head to head
About

HamSphere 5.0

This virtual ham radio transceiver simulates HF bands from 10-160m, including 6m, 2m, and 70cm. It features USB, LSB, and CW modes, power settings, and built-in audio filters. Additional instruments can be unlocked via in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Virtual HF bands (10-160m)
  • 6m, 2m, and 70cm bands
  • USB, LSB, and CW modes
  • Built-in audio filters
  • Power setting
  • In-app purchase instrument expansions
Features
Read full description

This handheld Amateur Radio transceiver offers 10-160m virtual HamSphere HF bands including 6m, 2m and 70cm. It comes with a fully working 30 day trial. The transceiver has three built in audio filters, USB, LSB and CW Modes, power setting. The transceiver can be expanded with a number of useful instruments as in-app-purchases.

About

TrainTracker App

Log and explore real-time train sightings across North America. Share your discoveries, view what others have spotted, and track your sighting history with badges. Features an interactive map and community feed for railfans.

Highlights
  • Log train sightings with photos and GPS
  • Interactive map with railroad-colored pins
  • Community sighting feed
  • User profiles with badges
  • Searchable railroad picker
  • Dark mode support
Features
Read full description

TrainTracker is the railfan community's sighting map. Log the trains you spot, see what others have found, and explore sightings across North America in real time. SPOT AND LOG Quickly log train sightings with locomotive number, railroad, train symbol, direction of travel, photos, and GPS location. Tag your sightings and add YouTube video links. EXPLORE THE MAP Browse an interactive map with color-coded pins for every railroad. Filter by time range, railroad, and more. Tap any pin to see sighting details and photos. COMMUNITY FEED See what other railfans are spotting in your area and across the country. View sightings from the last 24 hours or browse the full archive with search and filters. YOUR PROFILE Track your sighting history, earn badges as you log more sightings, and share your profile with other railfans. Set your home location to see nearby activity. DARK MODE Full dark mode support throughout the app. Toggle it from your profile. FEATURES - Log sightings with photo, location, railroad, locomotive number, and train symbol - Interactive map with railroad-colored pins and direction arrows - Community sighting feed with nearby and recent tabs - Searchable railroad picker with 100+ railroads - Sighting archive with search, time filters, and railroad filters - User profiles with badges, referral links, and sighting history - Pull-to-refresh on all screens - Dark mode support - Feedback form to help us improve Built for railfans, by railfans. TrainTracker is an independent platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any railroad company.

Screenshots

HamSphere 5.04 screens
TrainTracker App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: TrainTracker App at 80% against HamSphere 5.0's 38%. TrainTracker App also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.9) and in-app purchases (none vs 30). HamSphere 5.0's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, ratings volume 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

Both are free to download. HamSphere 5.0 sells 30 one-off in-app purchases. TrainTracker App asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TrainTracker App holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of HamSphere 5.0's written reviews are positive against 80% of TrainTracker App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HamSphere 5.0 ships an update monthly, TrainTracker App every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
HamSphere 5.0 versus TrainTracker App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHamSphere 5.0TrainTracker App
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (7 ratings)4.8 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.5% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings715 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB39 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperHamSphere ABSAMUEL NICHOLAS HAJEK

Customer experience

HamSphere 5.0

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative56.3%

TrainTracker App

All ratings15 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

30 purchases

HamSphere 5.0

One-time30
  • 3el T-yagi E (30m)$4.99
  • 3el T-yagi E (40m)$4.99
  • 3el T-yagi W (20m)$4.99
Show 27 more
  • 3el T-yagi E (20m)$4.99
  • G5RV North-South (10-160m)$4.99
  • J-Pole (12m)$6.99
  • J-Pole (17m)$6.99
  • Plugizer MBP009$6.99
  • Lookup Box MBP011$6.99
  • J-Pole (11m)$6.99
  • J-Pole (20m)$6.99
  • Log Book MBP003$6.99
  • DX-Monitor MBP008$6.99
  • Waterfall MBP002$6.99
  • Antenna Selector MBP004$6.99
  • Antenna Rotator MBP005$6.99
  • Oscilloscope MBP006$6.99
  • DX-Cluster MBP010$6.99
  • 8-Band Omni Whip (10-40m)$6.99
  • J-Pole (10m)$6.99
  • G5RV East-West (10-160m)$6.99
  • Moxon (20m)$14.99
  • Moxon (12m)$14.99
  • Moxon (17m)$14.99
  • Moxon (10m)$14.99
  • Moxon (11m)$14.99
  • Bruce Array (60m)$24.99
  • Bruce Array (80m)$24.99
  • VU2NSB Dangler (20,17, 12,10m)$29.99
  • HamSphere Subscription$29.99
None

TrainTracker App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HamSphere 5.0 free?
HamSphere 5.0 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TrainTracker App free?
TrainTracker App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HamSphere 5.0 or TrainTracker App?
TrainTracker App is rated higher. HamSphere 5.0 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while TrainTracker App averages 4.8 from 15 ratings.
Do HamSphere 5.0 or TrainTracker App have ads?
TrainTracker App shows ads; HamSphere 5.0 does not.
Which is updated more often, HamSphere 5.0 or TrainTracker App?
HamSphere 5.0 ships an update monthly, and TrainTracker App every 3 days. Most recently, HamSphere 5.0 was updated on September 23, 2026 and TrainTracker App on October 8, 2026.

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