QRV vs Handi
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
QRV
This app consolidates essential ham radio tools for efficient operation and DX success. It provides real-time band conditions, callsign lookups, band plans, and built-in calculators. Available across multiple Apple devices, it offers cross-device sync and customizable alerts.
- Real-time band conditions
- Universal callsign lookup
- Cross-device sync
- DXpedition calendar
- POTA spots
- Band plans
- Built-in calculators
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QRV (I am ready) is your essential ham radio multitool built for DX success and maximum operating efficiency. Stop juggling apps! QRV aggregates critical tools and reliable, fast-updated data into one single, clean platform. Available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. --- QRV is designed to get you the information you need quickly, whether you are in the field or at the shack: - Real-time Band Conditions: Access live propagation data from HamQSL to find the optimal frequency. - Universal Search: Look up a callsign, jump to a DXCC entity by name or prefix, or check your band plan for a frequency — all from one place. - Cross-Device Sync: Favorites, frequency memories, settings and alerts follow you — through iCloud, or with a free sign-in wherever you use QRV. - My Frequencies: Save important frequencies (weekly nets, calling channels, and more) with name, mode, and notes. - Comprehensive Call Sign Lookup: Search easily via QRZ and/or HamQTH. - QRZ QSO Confirmation: See at a glance which bands you've worked a station on, across every QRZ logbook you own. - DXpedition Calendar: Track active and upcoming DXpeditions worldwide — see local spots and worldwide on-air activity side by side. - POTA Spots: Browse live Parks on the Air activations with band, mode, and search filters. - Band Plans: Detailed frequency allocations for 22 countries across North America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania — available in English and a native language - Glanceable data on the Apple Watch. See spots, the top bands, POTA stats, and solar conditions on your wrist. - Built-in Calculators: Antenna lengths (dipole, Slim Jim, J-Pole), coax & feedline loss, battery runtime, and power calculations. - Beginner-Friendly Reference: Q-codes, CW (Morse code) with audio, Prosigns, RST, APRS commands, Maidenhead grids, and more. - Full VoiceOver support and colorblind-friendly design. Note: Full QRZ data requires an XML and/or API subscription. Note: The Apple Watch app requires watchOS 11 (Apple Watch Series 6 or later, SE 2nd generation, or Ultra). Earlier watches aren't supported. --- PREMIUM FEATURES - Live Spots: Get reliable, high-speed spot delivery from PSK Reporter. - Rover Mode: Temporarily view live spots and band activity for any grid square without moving — widgets, Apple Watch, and alerts all follow the grid you choose, then revert automatically. - Lightning Proximity Alerts: Get warned when lightning is detected near your station so you can disconnect in time — fixed location or GPS-following, with an adjustable radius. - Customized Notifications: Set alerts for bands, DXCCs, DXpeditions, and individual callsigns with configurable thresholds. - Home Screen Widgets: Check band conditions at a glance without opening the app. - DXpedition Alerts: Get notified when your tracked DXpeditions are spotted. - Callsign Alerts: Get notified when a specific callsign is spotted from your location. - Logbook-Aware Alerts: DXCC and Callsign alerts auto-manage based on your QSO/QSL history from Wavelog or QRZ Logbook. Why Premium? These features require robust infrastructure: - I run dedicated servers to aggregate PSK Reporter data, process notifications, serve band conditions, and provide DXpedition info. - This delivers faster, more reliable data than direct API polling while being a good steward to upstream services like N1DQ's PSK Reporter. - Premium subscriptions help cover ongoing server and infrastructure costs. Your subscription is shared between all versions of the app. --- Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Handi
This app enhances amateur radio operations by connecting your Bluetooth-enabled transceiver to your iPhone or iPad. It offers comprehensive features for programming, messaging, mapping, and packet-radio communications, including APRS and Winlink email.
- Radio channel management
- APRS messaging
- Winlink email
- Packet terminal communication
- Interactive mapping
- File exchange
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HTCommander is a comprehensive companion for amateur radio operators using EchoLink or supported Bluetooth-enabled transceivers. Connect your radio to your iPhone or iPad and manage programming, messaging, mapping, and packet-radio communications from one application. KEY FEATURES - Configure, organize, import, and export radio channels - Send and receive APRS messages - Inspect packet details and select APRS routing paths - Request weather reports and use supported APRS services - Display APRS stations and position reports on an interactive map - Compose, send, and receive Winlink email with attachments - Communicate through the packet terminal - Operate a built-in bulletin board system - Capture and decode received packets - Manage APRS, Winlink, and terminal contacts - Use supported radio GPS information - Exchange files over compatible packet-radio links SUPPORTED RADIOS HTCommander supports selected models from BTECH, Radioddity, Vero, and Radtel, including the UV-Pro, UV-50Pro, GA-5WB, DB50-B Mini, VR-N75, VR-N76, VR-N7500, VR-N7600, and RT-660. An amateur radio license is required to transmit. Operators are responsible for following local regulations, band plans, and licensing requirements.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Handi at none against QRV's 3. Handi also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). QRV's advantage is review sentiment (82% vs 67%) and ratings volume (81 vs 5). On price, rating, ads and device support 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. QRV sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Handi asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for QRV against 5.0 for Handi. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QRV has 81 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of QRV's written reviews are positive against 67% of Handi's.
QRV ships an update weekly, Handi every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | QRV | Handi |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (81 ratings) | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.8% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 81 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 43 MB | 64 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Joseph Iannazzone | Ylian Saint-Hilaire |
Customer experience
QRV
Handi
In-app purchases
QRV
- QRV Premium - Monthly$2.991 Month
- QRV Premium - Annual$9.991 Year
- QRV Premium - Lifetime$24.99
Handi
No in-app purchases









