Comparison

Echo vs HamThings PTT

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

Head to head
About

Echo

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
Read full description

Echo is the ultimate, natively-built iOS client for tuning into remote radio servers. Listen to anything, from anywhere. Dive into international shortwave broadcasts from Asia, monitor aviation communications over the Atlantic, discover mysterious numbers stations, or tune into distant FM stations across the globe, all from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac with Apple silicon. Featured in Radio World, on RTL-SDR.com, and in the SWLing Post. Radio World's Nick Langan praised Echo's "thoughtfully designed interface," said he has "loved using" the app, and later described Echo Pro's transcription as "very responsive." Designed for radio enthusiasts and curious listeners alike, Echo is a powerful aggregator that connects you to nearly 3,000 community-hosted Software Defined Radio (SDR) receivers and OpenMHz archives. By integrating these reliable streams into a dedicated native environment, Echo delivers true background audio, high-performance mapping, and features that are difficult to achieve in a standard web browser. KEY FEATURES Global Interactive Map & Search Visually browse thousands of remote SDR servers worldwide using our smooth, native MapKit clustering engine, or instantly search nearly 3,000+ receivers by name or location. Unmatched SDR Compatibility Seamless support for KiwiSDR, OpenWebRX, WebSDR, and FM-DX Webserver architectures. Want to listen to a private node? Add your own unlisted servers with custom URL entry. Scanner Mode & OpenMHz Automatically cycle through station lists at set intervals. Listen directly to public safety, fire, and EMS radio systems via vast OpenMHz archives. Advanced Tuning & Analytics • Smart Manual Tuner: Instantly tune by entering kHz or MHz; Echo intelligently detects the band format. • Audio Engine Passthrough: Interfaces directly with server-side signal processors for broad compatibility with waterfall rendering, plugins, and decoding extensions. • Intelligent Profile Switching: Automatically switches to the correct server band profile as you tune on supported networks. Offline Frequency Library & Logging Search an offline, built-in EIBI database of over 9,000 global shortwave and utility frequencies. Save and log your favorite stations to your local device. Uninterrupted Background Audio Keep listening when your screen is locked or while using other apps. Our custom audio bridge intercepts complex SDR streams to provide true iOS background playback and lock-screen controls. ECHO PRO Take Echo further with recording, live transcription, translation, and iCloud sync. • Record the Airwaves: Record live radio and revisit important moments anytime. • Live Transcription: Turn live radio into on-screen text as you listen. • Translation: Transcribe foreign-language broadcasts and translate them into readable English. • iCloud Sync: Sync recordings, transcripts, translations, notes, favorites, saved servers, and supported settings across your Apple devices. Echo Pro requires a monthly or annual subscription. Privacy First Zero tracking. No analytics, no proprietary tracking servers, and no ad IDs. Your listening activity is not tracked. Echo Pro syncs supported data through your private iCloud account. Built with speed, aesthetics, and privacy in mind, Echo ensures a fast, premium listening experience. Start exploring the airwaves today! VoiceOver & Accessibility Support • Every button, control, and station card announces meaningful context to VoiceOver • Scanner controls (play/pause/skip/favorite) are fully labeled and navigable • Station changes, server connections, and scanner state are announced in real-time • Reduce Transparency support: glass effects swap to solid backgrounds when enabled • Reduce Motion support: animations are simplified when enabled in iOS settings • Decorative elements hidden from assistive technology for a cleaner navigation experience Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

HamThings PTT

Connect your ham radio to your iPhone for internet-based communication on DMR digital networks and analog SvxLink reflectors. Supports multiple networks and offers real-time push-to-talk, DMR features, and last heard information. Requires a valid amateur radio license.

Highlights
  • Real-time push-to-talk over IP
  • DMR digital network support
  • SvxLink analog reflector connectivity
  • Multi-network compatibility
  • Real-time Last Heard display
  • DMR text messaging
  • Background wake-up for calls
Features
Read full description

HamThings PTT brings your ham radio to your iPhone. Connect over the Internet and talk on DMR digital networks and analog SvxLink reflectors, wherever you are. For licensed radio amateurs. Multi-network: HamThings, BrandMeister and other IP servers, plus SvxLink reflectors. Features: Real-time push-to-talk over IP DMR: dual slot (TS1/TS2), group and private calls SvxLink: analog reflectors, always free Real-time Last Heard DMR text messaging Local or remote audio (transcoder) — your choice Background wake-up so you never miss a call Clean, fast interface The SvxLink (analog) protocol is always free. DMR features require a subscription; a free trial starts automatically the first time you open the app, so you can try everything. HamThings PTT is an independent project, made by hams for hams. A valid amateur radio license is required to transmit. Subscription details: HamThings PTT is an annual auto-renewing subscription. Payment will be charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it at any time in your Apple Account settings. Privacy policy: https://hamthings.it/privacy.html

Screenshots

Echo4 screens
HamThings PTT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Echo at 100% against HamThings PTT's 0%. Echo also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, update cadence, 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. Echo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and HamThings PTT sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $8.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Echo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Echo has 33 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Echo's written reviews are positive against 0% of HamThings PTT's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Echo ships an update weekly, HamThings PTT every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Echo versus HamThings PTT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEchoHamThings PTT
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (33 ratings) — better3.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings33 — better1
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMark Garrison Jr.Giacomo De Angelis

Customer experience

Echo

All ratings33 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

HamThings PTT

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Echo

Subscriptions2
  • Echo Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Echo Pro Annual$39.991 Year
1 purchases

HamThings PTT

Subscriptions1
  • HamThings PTT (yearly)$8.991 Year

Questions

Is Echo free?
Echo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HamThings PTT free?
HamThings PTT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Echo or HamThings PTT?
Echo is rated higher. Echo averages 5.0 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while HamThings PTT averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Echo or HamThings PTT have ads?
Neither Echo nor HamThings PTT shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Echo or HamThings PTT?
Echo ships an update weekly, and HamThings PTT every 4 days. Most recently, Echo was updated on October 12, 2026 and HamThings PTT on October 6, 2026.

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