# Echo vs Magic PTT

The clearest difference is monetization model: Echo at free against Magic PTT's freemium. Echo also leads on ratings volume (36 vs 1). Magic PTT's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Echo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Magic PTT sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Echo against 5.0 for Magic PTT. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Echo has 36 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Echo ships an update every 9 days, Magic PTT every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Echo | Magic PTT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echo-global-sdr-receiver/id6759174390/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-ptt/id6780658818/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **36** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 12 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Mark Garrison Jr.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877165041) | [Dominic Landucci](https://appshunter.io/developer/6780658820) |

## What reviewers say

### Echo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echo-global-sdr-receiver/id6759174390)

Tune into thousands of remote radio servers worldwide from your iPhone or iPad. Explore shortwave broadcasts, aviation communications, and more with a global interactive map and advanced tuning features. Enjoy uninterrupted background audio and a privacy-first experience.

**Highlights:** Global interactive map and search, Support for multiple SDR architectures, Scanner mode and OpenMHz archives, Pro-level tuning and analytics, Offline frequency library and logging, Uninterrupted background audio, Privacy-first design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Echo Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Echo Pro Annual | $39.99 | per year |


### Magic PTT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-ptt/id6780658818)

This app provides a push-to-talk radio network for various users, enabling live voice communication over a global network. It features channels, private rooms, radio bridges, live captions, and contact management. Users can also share photos and access weather alerts.

**Highlights:** Push-to-talk voice communication, Global radio network, Channels and private rooms, Live captions in 25 languages, Contact management and notes, Live map with grid squares, Chat and photo sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Magic PTT membership | $3.49 | per month |
| Magic PTT membership (yearly) | $27.99 | per year |
| Radio look pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Custom Magic PTT ID | $16.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Echo free?

Echo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Magic PTT free?

Magic PTT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Echo or Magic PTT?

Magic PTT is rated higher. Echo averages 4.9 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Magic PTT averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Echo or Magic PTT have ads?

Neither Echo nor Magic PTT shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Echo or Magic PTT?

Echo ships an update every 9 days, and Magic PTT every 3 days. Most recently, Echo was updated on October 24, 2026 and Magic PTT on October 31, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*