Head Copy vs MorseCAT
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Head Copy
Master Morse code with realistic QSO simulations and professional training modes. Practice with authentic callsigns, radio conditions, and contest simulations. Ideal for amateur radio operators looking to improve their CW skills.
- Realistic QSO simulator with real callsigns
- Professional training modes (POTA, SKCC, Contest)
- Authentic radio experience with QSB, QRN, and vintage effects
- Adjustable WPM speeds (5-50 WPM)
- CarPlay integration for practice on the go
- Background learning with sleep timer
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Master Morse code with Head Copy, the most comprehensive CW training app designed specifically for amateur radio operators. Whether you're preparing for your first QSO or training for competitive contests, Head Copy delivers authentic, realistic practice that mirrors real on-air conditions. REALISTIC QSO SIMULATOR Experience industry-first realistic CW conversations with actual callsigns from CWops, SKCC, and contest participants. No more artificial practice text - train with the same callsigns you'll encounter on the air. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING MODES - POTA (Parks on the Air): Practice authentic park-to-park contacts - SKCC (Straight Key Century Club): Master straight key techniques with realistic key characteristics - Contest Training: WPX, CWops CWT, SST, MST, and NCCC Sprint simulations - LICW Specialized Training: Advanced learning methods - Words List Training: Build fundamental skills with curated word lists AUTHENTIC RADIO EXPERIENCE Head Copy simulates real radio conditions with QSB (signal fading), QRN (atmospheric noise), and vintage radio effects. Choose between modern crystal-clear audio or vintage tube radio warmth. Practice with straight key simulation that includes realistic contact bounce and timing variations. ADVANCED FEATURES - Adjustable WPM speeds from 5 to 50 WPM - Farnsworth timing for character vs word speed control - Wordsworth spacing for advanced timing control - Head-copy mode: text display delay for authentic copying practice - Background learning with sleep timer - CarPlay integration for commute practice - Unlimited practice time (Premium) COMPREHENSIVE CONTENT All training content is regularly updated with fresh callsign databases and contest exchanges. Practice with thousands of real amateur radio callsigns and authentic contest exchanges used in actual competitions. CONVENIENT ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION Stop juggling multiple apps, MP3 files, or YouTube videos. Head Copy puts everything you need for serious CW training in one professional application. Practice anywhere, anytime, with or without internet connection. PERFECT FOR - New amateur radio operators learning CW - Contest operators preparing for competitions - POTA and SOTA activators - SKCC members practicing straight key techniques - Anyone serious about improving their Morse code skills EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Built-in learning materials include Morse code fundamentals, head-copy study guides, learning tips and tricks, and comprehensive reference charts. Everything you need to progress from beginner to expert. SUBSCRIPTION FEATURES Premium subscription unlocks all training modes, unlimited practice time, advanced audio features, and priority support. Free version includes basic training with time limits. Head Copy is developed by active amateur radio operators who understand the real challenges of learning and maintaining CW skills. Join thousands of hams worldwide who trust Head Copy for their Morse code training. Download Head Copy today and experience the difference that realistic, professional CW training makes. Your on-air confidence starts here. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://head-copy.com/privacy-policy.html
MorseCAT
Learn Morse code by sound at real operating speeds from day one. Practice listening to characters and keying them back, with tools to track your progress and simulate real-world radio communications. Unlock additional arcade-style games and advanced drills with a one-time purchase.
- Instant Character Recognition (ICR) training
- Listen & Learn sound-based introduction
- Keying back practice with hardware support
- Per-character mastery heatmap
- QSO simulator for realistic exchanges
- Offline functionality
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Learn Morse code the way high-speed operators actually hear it: as sounds, not dots and dashes. MorseCAT is an Instant Character Recognition (ICR) trainer. Every character is sent at real speed from day one — you never count elements, you learn the sound. Then you answer the way an operator would: key it back. LEARNING IS FREE. FOREVER. • The full guided path — every letter, number, and prosign, in the proven CW Academy order • Listen & Learn — hear each character introduced as pure sound • Listen & Say — say the character out loud and MorseCAT grades you by ear • Free Practice — your speed, your character set, whenever • Word Patterns and weekly LICW class groups — drill exactly what your class covers • Progress that means something: a per-character mastery heatmap, recognition-time tracking, a copy-ceiling benchmark, streaks, and a proficiency rank ANSWER LIKE AN OPERATOR Hear a character, key it back. Use the on-screen straight key, the touch paddle, or plug in real hardware — Bluetooth MIDI keyers and paddles (TinyMIDI, HaliKey, VBand-style interfaces) take over automatically the moment they connect. Motor memory in, guesswork out. REAL SPEED, HONEST NUMBERS Characters always sound at your character speed (default 32 wpm, floor 25) — fast enough that there's no time to count elements, which is the whole point. Difficulty comes from closing the gaps, Farnsworth-style, never from slowing the code down. MorseCAT measures your time-to-recognize on every single character, so you always know which ones are instant and which ones still make you think. MORSECAT PRO — ONE PURCHASE, YOURS FOREVER A single one-time unlock (no subscription, ever) opens the arcade and the airwaves: • Key Invaders — read the falling words, shoot them by keying them • Ice Dash — an arcade sprint for your sending hand • The full QSO simulator — realistic contest and club exchanges: SST, POTA hunting, CWT, SKCC, and LICW scenarios, with band noise and fading if you want it • Advanced push drills — the Miss Drill and Send Sprint Code Invaders, single-caller QSOs (5 a day), and every learning tool stay free — and the whole arcade opens free for ten minutes every day, so you can try it before you decide. NO NONSENSE • No account. No ads. No tracking. • Works offline — practice on a plane, in a park, anywhere • Your progress lives on your phone, nowhere else Whether you're prepping for your first POTA hunt, keeping up with your LICW class, or chasing 40 wpm head-copy, MorseCAT meets your ear where it is and pushes it — one instantly-recognized character at a time. 73, and happy keying.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: MorseCAT at 100% against Head Copy's 25%. MorseCAT also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.7). Head Copy's advantage is ratings volume (15 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Head Copy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and MorseCAT sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
MorseCAT holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Head Copy has 15 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Head Copy's written reviews are positive against 100% of MorseCAT's.
Head Copy ships an update weekly, MorseCAT every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Head Copy | MorseCAT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (15 ratings) | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CCE3D LLC | Aspen Ventures, LLC |
Customer experience
Head Copy
MorseCAT
In-app purchases
Head Copy
- Head Copy Premium Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Head Copy Premium Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
MorseCAT
- MorseCAT Pro$4.99








