SOTA Log vs HamSat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
HamSat
Track satellite passes with real-time azimuth, elevation, and Doppler-corrected frequencies. Features an Apple Watch companion for wrist-based aiming and pass tracking, and allows users to stamp photos with operational data.
- Apple Watch companion for pass tracking and antenna aiming
- Live sky dome with real-time satellite arcs
- Aim mode with phone compass and haptic feedback
- Doppler-corrected frequencies for operating during passes
- Photo stamping with callsign, grid, satellite, and UTC time
- Offline satellite tracking and propagation
- Geostationary satellite tracking
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HamSat is the satellite tracker built for amateur radio operators — with an Apple Watch companion on your wrist and, new in 2.1, a sked planner that finds the passes you and another operator can work together. NEW — SKED PLANNER (Pro) • Plan a contact, not just a pass: enter another operator's grid square and find every window where a satellite sees you both • Set a minimum elevation for each end of the link — a window only counts if it's workable at both stations • One tap adds the sked to your calendar with the overlap times, a 10-minute reminder, and the radio setup PLAN AHEAD • Pass predictions up to 7 days out • Add any pass to Apple Calendar — times, reminder, and frequencies in the notes. HamSat never reads your calendar. • Choose your pass-alert tone — including a CW "HI" in Morse APPLE WATCH (Pro) • Your next favorite pass on your wrist: live azimuth, elevation, Doppler-corrected frequencies, and a countdown to AOS • Guided wrist-aim — follow an arrow straight to the satellite and feel a haptic tap the instant you're locked on. Aim your antenna without looking at a screen, hands free for the radio. • Propagated on the watch itself, so it keeps tracking even when your phone is out of range PASS TRACKING • Live sky dome with the satellite's arc and a glyph riding it in real time • Fullscreen Live tracker — big AZ/EL, Doppler-corrected frequencies, landscape split-pane • Aim mode uses your phone's compass to show where you're pointing — no forced figure-8 calibration, just point and go • Apple Maps ground track with horizon footprint OPERATING DURING A PASS • Doppler-corrected RX (and TX for SSB/linear) dial frequencies, updated every second • 10-minute and AOS notifications that deep-link straight to the pass • Live Activity + Dynamic Island on the lock screen, elevation and azimuth ticking live • Bell badge on any pass you've set an alert for ROVER PROOF PHOTOS • Stamp a photo at your site with your callsign, grid, satellite, and UTC time — proof of where you were on the air • Fresh photo or one from your library; share to X, Messages, AirDrop — or submit for the AMSAT Rover Award ALWAYS OVERHEAD (free) • Lists any geostationary satellite in your sky — QO-100 (Es'hail 2) for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East • "Find it in the sky" — point your phone and check your line-of-sight to the bird is clear • No Pro required for geostationary satellites SATELLITE CATALOG • Friendly designations everywhere — SO-50, AO-91, RS-44, JO-97 — with launch names as subtitles • Search by name or NORAD ID • Curated radio data for the most-worked birds, plus live SatNOGS for the long tail — kept fresh by HamSat's catalog service • Filter by mode (FM, linear, beacon, data, telemetry) ACCURATE & OFFLINE • Full SGP4 propagation on-device — the model the pros use, so times and positions match apps like ISS Detector • Works completely offline — every pass, sky dome, ground track, and Doppler computed locally. No API keys, no rate limits. • Always-fresh orbital data via HamSat's catalog service, with direct CelesTrak/AMSAT fallback — or pin a source • Settings shows how fresh your orbital data is PRIVACY-FIRST • Your location stays on-device — nothing about you is sent to any server • Orbital data from public sources (CelesTrak, AMSAT, SatNOGS) • No accounts, no tracking, no ads HamSat Pro — the field operator's toolkit • Sked planner — mutual passes with any partner grid • Apple Watch tracking & guided wrist-aim • Fullscreen Live tracker with second-by-second Doppler (landscape split-pane) • Live in-pass Doppler — corrected RX/TX at AOS, max, and LOS • Overhead-now live tracker for your favorites • Unlimited scheduled alerts — not just three • Shareable Rover proof photos One-time purchase, no subscription. 73 — and good DX!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SOTA Log at 5.0 against HamSat's 4.5. SOTA Log also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.4). HamSat's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and ratings volume (6 vs 2). On price, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. HamSat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SOTA Log asks for nothing beyond the download.
SOTA Log holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 6 respectively.
SOTA Log ships an update fortnightly, HamSat every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | SOTA Log | HamSat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | 4.5 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christopher Hunt | Vasco Barreiros |
Customer experience
SOTA Log
HamSat
In-app purchases
SOTA Log
No in-app purchases
HamSat
- HamSat Pro$9.99







