# HamsterDB vs HamBand

The clearest difference is update cadence: HamBand at every 10 days against HamsterDB's every 2 months. HamsterDB's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

HamsterDB ships an update every 2 months, HamBand every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HamsterDB | HamBand |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamband/id6772585467/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 7 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gale Wolfenbarger](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893419175) | [TAYLOR JOHN TRANSUE](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772585469) |

## What reviewers say

### HamsterDB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamsterdb/id6762391886)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### HamBand

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamband/id6772585467)

This app provides amateur radio operators with real-time HF band condition assessments using live solar weather data. It offers band ratings, a greyline visualizer, and trend charts to help predict propagation. An Apple Watch companion app is also available for quick access to information.

**Highlights:** Real-time HF band condition ratings, Greyline visualizer for propagation, 7-day trend charts for solar data, Live Solar Flux Index and K-Index, Apple Watch companion app and complication, No subscriptions, accounts, or ads

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HamsterDB free?

HamsterDB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HamBand free?

HamBand is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do HamsterDB or HamBand have ads?

Neither HamsterDB nor HamBand shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HamsterDB or HamBand?

HamsterDB ships an update every 2 months, and HamBand every 10 days. Most recently, HamsterDB was updated on October 7, 2026 and HamBand on October 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*