Comparison

Carrier Wave vs SOTA Log

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

Head to head
About

Carrier Wave

This application is a modern QSO logger for amateur radio operators, designed for fast and reliable contact logging from any location. It offers seamless syncing with popular services, real-time monitoring, and advanced features like AI-powered transcription.

Highlights
  • Fast command-driven logging
  • Sync contacts to QRZ, POTA, Ham2K
  • Real-time POTA and RBN monitoring
  • POTA activation management
  • AI-powered CW transcription
  • iCloud sync
  • Detailed statistics
Features
Read full description

Carrier Wave is a fast, modern QSO logger for amateur radio operators. Log contacts from the field or the shack, sync to your favorite services, and track your progress - all from your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. KEY FEATURES - Fast command-driven logging with quick-entry shortcuts and keyboard accessory bar - Sync contacts to QRZ, Parks on the Air (POTA), and Ham2K LoFi - Real-time POTA and Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) spot monitoring with map view - POTA activation management with rove support, auto-spotting, and two-fer parks - CW recording and AI-powered transcription with karaoke-style playback - iCloud sync across all your devices - Automatic and manual database backups with iCloud Drive mirroring - ADIF import and export - Detailed statistics: bands, modes, DXCC entities, grids, states, parks - Social activity feed with friends list and on-air notifications - Apple Watch companion with live session updates and solar conditions - Landscape and iPad layouts with resizable sidebar panes - Accessibility: VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and Reduce Motion support Carrier Wave is built for operators who want a fast, reliable logger that stays out of their way. Whether you are activating a park, chasing DX, or working a contest, it is designed to keep up with you.

About

SOTA Log

Log SOTA and POTA contacts quickly from the field with a single-field input for QSOs. Features live spotting, radio synchronization, and offline functionality for seamless operation.

Highlights
  • One-field QSO logging
  • Live SOTA/POTA spotting
  • Radio frequency and mode sync
  • SMS spotting without data
  • QRZ callsign lookup
  • ADIF log export
  • Offline operation
Features
Read full description

The fastest way to log SOTA and POTA contacts from the field. Type a callsign, hit Send, and you're ready for the next station. SOTA Log is built for operators who need speed on the summit, not menus, settings, or setup screens. ONE-FIELD LOGGING Type your entire QSO in a single field. Callsign, RST, frequency, mode, and references are parsed inline as you type. Frequency carries over. Mode derives from band. Everything you'd normally tap through just works. LIVE SPOTS Browse real-time SOTA and POTA spots filtered by program and mode. Tap a spot to prefill your QSO and tune your radio in one step. SOTACAT RADIO SYNC Connect to your Elecraft KX2, KX3, or KH1 for automatic frequency and mode sync, one-tap spot pouncing, and a CW keyer with six programmable macros. SOTAMAT SPOTTING Spot yourself via SMS with no cell data required. SOTA and POTA spots are sent through SOTAmat so chasers can find you even without internet. QRZ & ADIF Look up callsigns and sync your logs to QRZ Logbook. Export ADIF filtered for SOTA or POTA submissions. OFFLINE FIRST All logging works without internet. Reference databases, contact history, and activation progress live on-device. Network features enhance the experience but never gate it.

Screenshots

Carrier Wave4 screens
SOTA Log4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SOTA Log at Free against Carrier Wave's $4.99. SOTA Log also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.2). Carrier Wave's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On rating, ratings volume, 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

SOTA Log is free to download; Carrier Wave costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Carrier Wave against 5.0 for SOTA Log. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Carrier Wave ships an update weekly, SOTA Log fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Carrier Wave versus SOTA Log: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCarrier WaveSOTA Log
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.217.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size64 MB6 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperJames VanaChristopher Hunt

Customer experience

Carrier Wave

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

SOTA Log

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Carrier Wave

No in-app purchases

None

SOTA Log

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Carrier Wave free?
Carrier Wave costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SOTA Log free?
SOTA Log is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Carrier Wave or SOTA Log?
Carrier Wave and SOTA Log are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Carrier Wave or SOTA Log have ads?
Neither Carrier Wave nor SOTA Log shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Carrier Wave or SOTA Log?
Carrier Wave ships an update weekly, and SOTA Log fortnightly. Most recently, Carrier Wave was updated on November 7, 2026 and SOTA Log on October 31, 2026.

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