# Feld Hellschreiber vs RS

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Feld Hellschreiber at 75% against RS's 15%. Feld Hellschreiber also leads on rating (2.8 vs 1.9) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 16.0). RS's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and ratings volume (76 vs 5). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

RS is free to download; Feld Hellschreiber costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Feld Hellschreiber holds the better App Store score, 2.8 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RS has 76 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Feld Hellschreiber's written reviews are positive against 15% of RS's.

Feld Hellschreiber ships an update every 13 months, RS every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Feld Hellschreiber | RS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[2.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/feld-hellschreiber/id650758963/reviews)** | [1.9 (76 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rs-ms1i/id1193842632/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **76** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 14.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 8 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 4 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Black Cat Systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/301047032) | [ICOM INCORPORATED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1193842631) |

## What reviewers say

### Feld Hellschreiber

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/feld-hellschreiber/id650758963)

This app decodes and transmits text messages using the historical Hellschreiber system, which sends characters as audio signals. It's ideal for amateur radio operators and enthusiasts interested in vintage communication methods. The app allows for both manual text entry and pre-set messages, with adjustable display contrast for optimal viewing.

**Highlights:** Decode Hellschreiber messages, Transmit text messages, Canned text message support, Adjustable display contrast, Real-time text scrolling, Audio input/output via device mic/speaker

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### RS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rs-ms1i/id1193842632)

Control compatible transceivers, share voice and pictures, and view station locations on a map. Access received station information, send text messages, and manage call sign and repeater lists. Customize transceiver and application settings for a streamlined experience.

**Highlights:** Transceiver DR functions, Send and receive voice and pictures, Map repeater and station locations, Read and edit received station information, Send and receive text messages, Manage call sign and repeater lists, Import/Export data

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works with IC-705
- 👍 Works with ID-52
- 👍 Map feature useful
- 👍 Past contacts visible
- 👍 Quick bug fixes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes on map screen
- 🐛 Crashes when sending photos
- 🐛 Bluetooth connectivity issues
- 🐛 Not connecting to ID-52
- 🐛 Not connecting to iPhone

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when using map function
- App crashes on map screen
- App closes when opening map
- Not staying connected to the app
- Connection unsuccessful error message

**Requested features**

- Add support for ID-5100
- Add support for ID-51A Plus 2
- Add support for ID-50
- Add support for IC-705
- Improve repeater list


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Feld Hellschreiber free?

Feld Hellschreiber costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is RS free?

RS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Feld Hellschreiber or RS?

Feld Hellschreiber is rated higher. Feld Hellschreiber averages 2.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while RS averages 1.9 from 76 ratings.

### Do Feld Hellschreiber or RS have ads?

Neither Feld Hellschreiber nor RS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Feld Hellschreiber or RS?

Feld Hellschreiber ships an update every 13 months, and RS every 8 months. Most recently, Feld Hellschreiber was updated on October 8, 2026 and RS on October 17, 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.*