Comparison

QRV vs Handi

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Real-time band conditions
  • Universal callsign lookup
  • Cross-device sync
  • DXpedition calendar
  • POTA spots
  • Band plans
  • Built-in calculators
Features
Read full description

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/

About

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.

Highlights
  • Radio channel management
  • APRS messaging
  • Winlink email
  • Packet terminal communication
  • Interactive mapping
  • File exchange
Features
Read full description

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

QRV4 screens
Handi4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. QRV sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Handi asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

QRV ships an update weekly, Handi every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
QRV versus Handi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQRVHandi
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (81 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.8% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings81 — better5
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac
Requires iOS18.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB64 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoseph IannazzoneYlian Saint-Hilaire

Customer experience

QRV

All ratings80 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral1.3%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive81.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative9.1%

Handi

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

QRV

Subscriptions2
  • QRV Premium - Monthly$2.991 Month
  • QRV Premium - Annual$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • QRV Premium - Lifetime$24.99
None

Handi

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is QRV free?
QRV is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Handi free?
Handi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, QRV or Handi?
Handi is rated higher. QRV averages 4.9 out of 5 from 81 ratings, while Handi averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do QRV or Handi have ads?
Neither QRV nor Handi shows ads.
Which is updated more often, QRV or Handi?
QRV ships an update weekly, and Handi every 2 days. Most recently, QRV was updated on November 9, 2026 and Handi on November 5, 2026.

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