Comparison

Utilities Field Test vs SWLtools

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

Head to head
About

Utilities Field Test

Features
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This is the app that comes with Toon, the smart platform that provides insight into your energy usage (and generation). Toon connects your smart appliances and gives you the control. At home, with the display on your wall. Or on the go, with this app. What’s in this app? * Waste checker – get to know the energy usage of your appliances, track down energy guzzlers and stop the waste. * Control Toon on-the-go to prevent unnecessary energy usage * Get historic insight into your energy and gas usage (both in volume and euro's) * Philips Hue lighting - control your colourful lighting remotely * Fibaro smart plugs - get insight into the energy usage of individuals appliances and turn them on and off remotely * Setting your Week program * Solar via the Toon app – insights into the output of your solar panel and graphs. * Holiday mode * Checking the battery life of your Fibaro smoke detectors via the app The Toon app can only be used if you have Toon installed and a Toon subscription. By using this app, you accept the terms and conditions: https://www.eneco.nl/klantenservice/producten-diensten/toon/beginnen/privacy

About

SWLtools

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SWLtools: The Companion for Shortwave Listening Enthusiasts SWLtools is an app designed specifically for Shortwave Listening (SWL) enthusiasts who want to enhance their listening experience. It records what you hear, shows you the band, and reads the digital modes that carry text on the air. Whether you are a hobbyist or a dedicated DXer, SWLtools supports your activity from the antenna to the logbook. DECODING THE ON-AIR TEXT MODES Point the app at a signal and it turns it into readable text. - Morse (CW). The app follows the tone by itself and measures the sending speed from the signal, so it keeps up with hand-sent Morse as well as machine-sent. A side panel collects the callsigns it has heard, and each transmission starts on its own line when the operator hands over. - RTTY, in both ITA2 and SITOR-B. - Weather fax (WEFAX). The chart builds up line by line as it arrives, and can be saved straight to your photo library. - ACARS aircraft messages, with the ones carrying a position shown on a map. Decoded text can be saved, reopened later and shared. All times, on screen and in the saved files, are UTC β€” the way radio logs are kept. SPECTRUM AND WATERFALL If your receiver provides an IQ output, SWLtools displays the real-time spectrum and spectrogram. Visually explore the bands and gain deeper insight into the signals you are receiving. Where the two channels of a USB adapter do not arrive perfectly in step β€” a common trait of audio codecs β€” a sample-delay correction removes the mirror image that would otherwise appear beside every signal. AUDIO RECORDING AND STORAGE Easily record and store audio directly from your receiver. Capture signals from around the world and listen to them again whenever you want, or turn a recording into a video to share. OPTIMIZED FOR THE BELKA RECEIVER SWLtools was designed to work seamlessly with the Belka receiver. It is the perfect companion for outdoor listening sessions, letting you record your DX, explore frequencies with the spectrum view, or read a weather fax from the field. The app is optimized for low power consumption when displaying the spectrum and waterfall, making it ideal for portable use. REQUIREMENTS To use SWLtools you need an inexpensive USB audio adapter (ADC/DAC) connected to your iOS device. These affordable dongles typically provide a microphone input and a headphone output, which is enough to record, to decode, and to show a single-channel spectrum. A two-channel audio interface does more: it carries a true I/Q pair, so the spectrum shows the full band above and below the tuned frequency, and it is the only kind that can play the receiver's audio through the iPhone speaker while you listen. The app tells you which class of device you have connected and what it allows, and an audio diagnostics panel shows exactly what iOS is doing with the signal if something does not sound right. Note: please make sure your receiver is compatible with the app's features and that you have the required accessories for optimal performance.

Screenshots

Utilities Field Test4 screens
SWLtools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Utilities Field Test at Free against SWLtools's $3.99. Utilities Field Test also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Utilities Field Test is free to download; SWLtools costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Utilities Field Test ships an update every 2 months, SWLtools every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on August 29, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
Utilities Field Test versus SWLtools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUtilities Field TestSWLtools
PriceFree β€” better$3.99
Update frequencyEvery 2 months β€” betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 β€” better17.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size29 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEnecoStefano Rampazzo

In-app purchases

None

Utilities Field Test

No in-app purchases

None

SWLtools

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Utilities Field Test free?
Utilities Field Test is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SWLtools free?
SWLtools costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Utilities Field Test or SWLtools have ads?
Neither Utilities Field Test nor SWLtools shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Utilities Field Test or SWLtools?
Utilities Field Test ships an update every 2 months, and SWLtools every 3 months. Most recently, Utilities Field Test was updated on August 29, 2026 and SWLtools on September 25, 2026.

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