# SWLtools vs ZSElmer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ZSElmer at 100% against SWLtools's 0%. ZSElmer also leads on price (Free vs $3.99) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). SWLtools's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

SWLtools ships an update every 2 months, ZSElmer every 7 months. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SWLtools | ZSElmer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zselmer/id6752545485/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 5 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stefano Rampazzo](https://appshunter.io/developer/396660919) | [Alecia Vermeulen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1678098669) |

## What reviewers say

### SWLtools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swltools/id6618146941)

Enhance your shortwave listening with this app that decodes on-air text modes like Morse, RTTY, and WEFAX. It also features spectrum analysis, audio recording, and is optimized for portable use with specific receivers.

**Highlights:** Decode Morse, RTTY, WEFAX, and ACARS, Real-time spectrum and spectrogram display, Audio recording and storage, Save and share decoded text, Optimized for Belka receiver, ACARS position mapping

**In-app purchases:** none


### ZSElmer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zselmer/id6752545485)

This app serves as a digital logbook and satellite tracker for amateur radio enthusiasts. It allows users to log contacts, monitor satellite positions, and connect with a global community of radio operators. Designed for both new and experienced users, it facilitates sharing experiences and learning from mentors.

**Highlights:** Real-time satellite tracking, Predict satellite passes, Quick QSO logging, ADIF, Cabrillo, CSV import/export, Community sharing features, Live antenna pointing data

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SWLtools free?

SWLtools costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ZSElmer free?

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

### Do SWLtools or ZSElmer have ads?

Neither SWLtools nor ZSElmer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SWLtools or ZSElmer?

SWLtools ships an update every 2 months, and ZSElmer every 7 months. Most recently, SWLtools was updated on October 12, 2026 and ZSElmer on October 12, 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.*