# RF vs rtl_tcp SDR

The clearest difference is price: RF at $0.99 against rtl_tcp SDR's $12.99. RF also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). rtl_tcp SDR's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 8 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

RF costs $0.99 and rtl_tcp SDR $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

RF ships an update every 8 months, rtl_tcp SDR every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RF | rtl_tcp SDR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $12.99 |
| Rating | — | **[3.9 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtl-tcp-sdr/id1351164646/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **32** |
| Positive reviews | — | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Size | 6 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Julien Geissbuehler](https://appshunter.io/developer/1762554076) | [HotPaw Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/285074853) |

## What reviewers say

### RF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rf-calc/id647697327)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### rtl_tcp SDR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtl-tcp-sdr/id1351164646)

This app acts as a software-defined radio receiver for iOS devices, allowing you to listen to various radio signals and view RF spectrum data. It connects to external SDR peripherals via a network protocol, requiring a separate server setup.

**Highlights:** Listen to AM, FM, SSB, CW signals, View RF spectrum and waterfall, Connect to networked RTL-SDR peripherals, Supports Airspy HF+, SDRPlay, LimeSDR Mini, Direct connection to Hermes Lite 2

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RF free?

RF costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is rtl_tcp SDR free?

rtl_tcp SDR costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do RF or rtl_tcp SDR have ads?

Neither RF nor rtl_tcp SDR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RF or rtl_tcp SDR?

RF ships an update every 8 months, and rtl_tcp SDR every 4 months. Most recently, RF was updated on October 26, 2026 and rtl_tcp SDR on October 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*