Comparison

MTP Code Groups vs QSO Central

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

Head to head
About

MTP Code Groups

Features
Read full description

MTP Code Groups delivers CW / Morse Code focused practice with random character groups, similar to classic LCWO-style drills. This training mode is perfect for smoothing out hesitation and improving character transitions. Pick the group length and session size, then copy each group at speed. The feedback is straightforward so you can spot weak areas and refine timing without getting lost in extra features. Code group practice is a staple for operators who want cleaner, more automatic decoding. It removes context clues and forces pure recognition, which makes real-world copying feel easier by comparison. You can use this app as a daily warmup, a speed-building sprint, or a way to sharpen precision before longer QSOs. Sessions stay compact, which makes it easy to repeat them and track improvement. Adjust the group length to match your goals: shorter groups for precision, longer groups for flow. The idea is to keep your rhythm steady and your spacing consistent, which carries directly into on-air copying. Over time, the random groups help reduce guesswork and encourage confident recognition of each character. MTP Code Groups is a dedicated micro-app with a single, targeted focus. It is part of the Morse Trainer Pro ecosystem, offering a familiar interface while keeping your attention on a single training routine.

About

QSO Central

Features
Read full description

QSO Central is the all-in-one companion for amateur radio operators and anyone studying for their license. No account, no sign-in, no ads, no tracking. The study and station tools work completely offline — perfect for the field, a contest site, or a basement shack with no signal. A set of optional Live Data features add real-time information when you're connected. LICENSE EXAM PREP (offline) • Full official NCVEC question pools: Technician, General, and Amateur Extra • Flashcards, browsable/searchable questions, and a realistic timed practice exam with instant grading • Missed-question review and per-subelement progress, saved on your device • Diagrams included for the questions that need them STATION TOOLKIT (offline) • U.S. Band Plan — slide across any band to see mode, common use, and exactly what your license class may transmit, color-coded by privilege • Antenna calculators — dipole, vertical, wavelength, plus SWR, coax loss, feedline impedance, and balun • Electrical calculators — Ohm's Law (voltage/current/resistance/power) and battery runtime & capacity • Grid Square tools — your Maidenhead grid from GPS, plus distance and bearing between grids on a map • Morse Code trainer — characters, random groups, callsign practice, and head-copy with adjustable speed and Farnsworth timing • Logbook — log your contacts and export standard ADIF and CSV files • Contest clock — a live UTC clock over a reference of major recurring contests • Emergency Comms — ICS forms reference, your own frequency plans, local repeaters, and contacts REFERENCE LIBRARY (offline) • The full text of 47 CFR Part 97 (the FCC amateur rules), plus plain-language summaries of common topics — Q-codes, phonetics, repeaters, operating procedures, and more • Everything searchable, everything offline LIVE DATA (optional, needs internet) • Callsign Lookup — U.S. lookups via the FCC database, no account required; optionally add your own QRZ.com or HamQTH account for worldwide results • Propagation — current solar indices and day/night band conditions • Repeater Directory — find and sort nearby repeaters with offset, tone, mode, and a map • On the Air — a live feed of current POTA (Parks on the Air). Each Live Data screen credits its public source and caches its last result so you can still see it offline. PRIVACY BY DESIGN QSO Central runs no servers and has no accounts, ads, trackers, or analytics. Your data stays on your device. Your location is used only on your device — to show your grid and sort nearby repeaters — and is never transmitted; you can skip it and type your grid by hand. The Live Data features send only what's needed to answer your request (for example, the callsign you look up) directly to the public service that provides it. Set your license class and home grid once in Settings, and the whole app tailors itself to you.

Screenshots

MTP Code Groups4 screens
QSO Central4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: MTP Code Groups at every 6 weeks against QSO Central's every 4 months. MTP Code Groups also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MTP Code Groups ships an update every 6 weeks, QSO Central every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
MTP Code Groups versus QSO Central: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMTP Code GroupsQSO Central
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOliver BrossBrickhouse Technologies LLC

In-app purchases

None

MTP Code Groups

No in-app purchases

None

QSO Central

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MTP Code Groups free?
MTP Code Groups is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is QSO Central free?
QSO Central is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do MTP Code Groups or QSO Central have ads?
Neither MTP Code Groups nor QSO Central shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MTP Code Groups or QSO Central?
MTP Code Groups ships an update every 6 weeks, and QSO Central every 4 months. Most recently, MTP Code Groups was updated on September 26, 2026 and QSO Central on October 17, 2026.

Other comparisons