Comparison

RagChew vs Magic PTT

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

Head to head
About

RagChew

Features
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RagChew is a companion app for amateur radio operators who want to follow nets without being at their radio. It connects to NetLogger and shows you what's happening on active nets in real time. EchoLink (Still in Beta and may be buggy): RagChew now includes EchoLink support. You can listen to nets over EchoLink audio directly in the app and transmit using the built-in push-to-talk button. A live audio level bar and connection quality indicator keep you informed while you're connected. Node descriptions are available to help you identify links and repeaters. Notifications: RagChew can send you push notifications so you don't have to keep the app open to stay informed. You can receive alerts when a net you've favorited goes active, when a favorited station checks into any net, and for other activity you choose to follow. Notifications are configurable so you only hear about what's relevant to you. Check-ins: The full check-in roster is displayed as operators join, including callsign, name, and status. You can see who is currently operating, who is mobile, and who has checked out. Tapping a check-in expands additional details and provides a link to the operator's QRZ profile. Net chat: If you monitor a net, you can read and send messages in the net's chat. The full message history is available, and you can react to individual messages. NetLogger-style text formatting is supported. Map: Check-ins are plotted on a map based on their logged positions, giving you a geographic view of who is participating in the net. Favorites and monitors: You can favorite nets and individual callsigns to track activity that matters to you. You can also see which other operators are currently monitoring any given net. Net history: Recently closed nets are available to browse, including their full check-in rosters and session information. Groups: Nets can be browsed by club or group, with group descriptions and associated net listings. iPad and landscape layouts: On iPad, the net detail screen uses a split layout that displays net information, the station map, check-ins, and chat simultaneously. On iPhone, a landscape layout presents check-ins and chat side by side. Both portrait and landscape orientations are supported on all devices. Account: Sign in with your existing NetLogger credentials. No separate account is required. Favorites, monitors, and chat require a login; active net listings and basic check-in information are available without one. The app supports light, dark, and automatic appearance modes and is available on iPhone and iPad.

About

Magic PTT

Features
Read full description

Magic PTT is a push-to-talk radio network for people who like a radio in their hand: hams, GMRS and CB operators, preppers, truckers, boaters, off-grid families, and anyone who wants to stay in contact when it matters. Press to talk. Members on the channel hear you live over Nexus, our voice network with servers in the USA and Europe and failover that just happens. WHAT YOU GET • Channels and private rooms. Join the Home channel, the International channel, or a My Room a net admin has set up for your group. • Radio bridges. Some rooms carry real Brandmeister DMR talkgroup traffic and AllStarLink nodes, so there is always something to hear. • Live captions in 25 languages. Pick your language once in Settings and every transmission arrives as text in it, translated automatically. • Operators roster. See who is on, who is talking, and star the people you want to find again. • Magic Book. Your contact book. Confirm a two-way key, keep notes, and message from a station card. Hams export ADIF from Logbook. • Magic Grid. Opt-in grid squares on a live map. Never GPS, and gone the moment you disconnect. • Chat and photos with member-to-member translation. • Storm Watch weather alerts and the World Net Clock on the Stage desk. • The Slammer. A moderated net with a sense of humour: rule-breakers do a little time. HARDWARE WE ACTUALLY DRIVE Bluetooth speaker-mics with their own PTT button key Magic PTT directly: BTech BS-22 and BS-50, TidRadio Q2L, Inrico B01 and B02. Voice rides normal Bluetooth audio. The iPhone Action Button can be set to toggle PTT. ONE NETWORK, EVERY SCREEN The same station on your iPhone, on your computer with Magic PTT Desktop, and in any browser. Your settings, contacts and rooms follow you. MEMBERSHIP Magic PTT is a member network. New accounts are approved at the Welcome Desk, usually the same day. Voice on public channels is live and unrecorded; private rooms are ephemeral unless the room owner enables recording with everyone's consent. Built by one person, with the members telling us what to build next.

Screenshots

RagChew4 screens
Magic PTT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Magic PTT at Free against RagChew's $4.99. RagChew's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Magic PTT is free to download; RagChew costs $4.99 up front. Magic PTT sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. RagChew asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
RagChew versus Magic PTT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRagChewMagic PTT
Price$4.99Free — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB11 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperTim MorganDominic Landucci

In-app purchases

None

RagChew

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Magic PTT

Subscriptions2
  • Magic PTT membership$3.491 Month
  • Magic PTT membership (yearly)$27.991 Year
One-time2
  • Radio look pack$9.99
  • Custom Magic PTT ID$16.99

Questions

Is RagChew free?
RagChew costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Magic PTT free?
Magic PTT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do RagChew or Magic PTT have ads?
Neither RagChew nor Magic PTT shows ads.

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