Comparison

SOTA Log vs Stolo Systems

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Stolo Systems

This app provides encrypted, off-grid messaging that functions without internet connectivity. It creates a peer-to-peer mesh network using Wi-Fi, cellular, or LoRa radio, enabling secure communication of messages, photos, voice notes, and GPS locations even when cell towers or servers are unavailable.

Highlights
  • Off-grid encrypted messaging
  • Peer-to-peer mesh network
  • Works without internet
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Offline world map
  • Emergency SOS beacon
Features
Read full description

Stolo is an encrypted messenger that built off of Reticulum and LXMF Out of the box it is a private, end-to-end encrypted messenger: no account, no phone number, no sign-up. Your identity and your history live only on your device, and Stolo's gateway relays your messages across the internet. When you need more, the same app becomes your own network. Create a network, share one invitation, and everyone who joins is in each other's contacts, trusted, automatically. Phones link directly over Wi-Fi and cellular, and optional long-range LoRa radios carry messages where there is no signal at all. Messages to someone out of range wait and are delivered when they come back. What you can send, on or off the grid: • Messages, photos, and voice notes, end-to-end encrypted. Only the people in the conversation can read them. Not us. • Live GPS positions on a built-in offline world map. See yourself and your team with zero connectivity. Under the hood, Stolo is built on Reticulum, the open cryptographic mesh stack, and sets up in a minute with no config files. Used for backcountry trips, maritime, job sites, disaster response, and everyday group chats that should stay between the people in them. Built on privacy. Works every day, everywhere, and keeps working when nothing else does.

Screenshots

SOTA Log4 screens
Stolo Systems4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SOTA Log at 5.0 against Stolo Systems's 4.7. Stolo Systems's advantage is ratings volume (10 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SOTA Log holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stolo Systems has 10 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SOTA Log ships an update fortnightly, Stolo Systems every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SOTA Log versus Stolo Systems: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSOTA LogStolo Systems
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.7 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings210 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB265 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristopher HuntStolo Systems Inc.

Customer experience

SOTA Log

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Stolo Systems

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SOTA Log

No in-app purchases

None

Stolo Systems

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SOTA Log free?
SOTA Log is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Stolo Systems free?
Stolo Systems is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SOTA Log or Stolo Systems?
SOTA Log is rated higher. SOTA Log averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Stolo Systems averages 4.7 from 10 ratings.
Do SOTA Log or Stolo Systems have ads?
Neither SOTA Log nor Stolo Systems shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SOTA Log or Stolo Systems?
SOTA Log ships an update fortnightly, and Stolo Systems every 3 weeks. Most recently, SOTA Log was updated on October 7, 2026 and Stolo Systems on October 5, 2026.

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