SOTA Log vs Ham Logging
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.
Ham Logging
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Ham Logging is a QSO logbook for amateur radio operators: one log on your phone that stays in step with the services you use — LoTW, eQSL, Club Log, QRZ.com Logbook, HRDLog.net / Ham365, HamQTH, CloudLog, Wavelog, QRZCQ, cqGMA and DxQSO. KEY FEATURES • 15 logging services: 11 take your contacts straight from the app, and POTA, SOTA, WWFF and ARRL Contest get a ready-made file • LoTW from your phone: your contacts signed with your own callsign certificate, exactly as TQSL signs them • Auto Sync, if you turn it on: new contacts and edits go to your services a few minutes after you log them • Callsign look-up from the sources you tick — QRZ.com, HamQTH, callook.info, and qrz.ru for the callsigns you type: every contact you log, import or download fills itself in — names, grids and zones • New QSO profiles — POTA, SOTA, WWFF, GMA, Satellite and Contest bring the fields you need to the top and count towards a valid activation • Full ADIF 3.1.8 import and export, and CSV and JSON backups of every field • Rover Mode: large-target, voice-dictated callsign entry for mobile operating • Rig control (Experimental): the log follows your radio's frequency and mode, over the network or Bluetooth • POTA, SOTA, WWFF, GMA and contest fields; spot yourself to POTA, WWFF, GMA and a DX cluster • QSL card export: a themed card with your comment, ready to share • Monthly and yearly statistics with shareable images PROPAGATION AND MAP • World map with great-circle lines to every worked station, and worked grids as squares • Gray line with an aurora layer (NOAA OVATION), 24-hour MUF prediction and band openings • PSK Reporter and WSPR paths, live solar data and band-by-band DX potential • One Spots tab — DX from HamQTH's cluster feed, POTA, SOTA, GMA, WWFF and contests, each read from its programme's own service — and a live APRS layer PRIVACY FIRST • No accounts, no ads, no analytics, no tracking • Your log stays on your phone and goes only to the services you set up — when you tap Sync, or by itself with Auto Sync • Microphone: only for Rover Mode dictation, handled by the system's speech engine, never recorded or sent • Local network: only to reach your own Wavelog or CloudLog server, or your radio through rigctld • Bluetooth: only to talk to your radio DARK MODE AND ACCESSIBILITY • Theme-aware throughout, a font-scale slider, and Tips & Tricks you can switch off Built by Yousuf AL Balushi (A41UX) — Unixeer — for the amateur radio community.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Ham Logging at every 5 days against SOTA Log's fortnightly. Ham Logging also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SOTA Log ships an update fortnightly, Ham Logging every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SOTA Log | Ham Logging |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christopher Hunt | Yousif AL Balushi |
In-app purchases
SOTA Log
No in-app purchases
Ham Logging
No in-app purchases









