HamBeacon vs Morse Hub
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HamBeacon
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Updated for the new 2026–2030 Technician pool. Free to try, then a one-time purchase. No subscription, ever. Getting your amateur radio license should feel like learning, not cramming. HamBeacon helps you walk into the exam confident, because you actually understand the material, not because you memorized a pattern of answer letters. EXPLANATIONS YOU CAN TRUST When a question trips you up, you deserve a real answer. Every question in HamBeacon includes a written explanation, available in three depths so you choose how much you want: a quick reminder, a fuller walkthrough, or a complete explanation when you want to understand the why. Every explanation is checked against primary sources, including FCC Part 97 rules and recognized engineering references. Circuit and waveform questions show the figure right next to the question. When you read why an answer is correct, you can rely on it. A STUDY PATH THAT ADAPTS TO YOU HamBeacon quietly keeps track of what you have learned and what still needs work, then puts the right questions in front of you at the right time. Questions you have mastered fade back. Questions you are still shaky on come around again until they stick. A clear Readiness Meter shows how close you are to passing, counting only what you have truly mastered, so you know when you are ready instead of guessing. FIVE TOOLS, ONE GOAL - Drill: focused study sessions that adapt to your progress - Practice Exam: full-length, randomized exams scored against the real passing threshold, with one-tap re-drill of the questions you missed - Smart Review: targeted sessions on the questions you most need to see again - Progress: your Readiness Meter trend and complete practice history at a glance - Exam Syllabus: the full structure of your exam, useful if you are following along with a study manual STAY ON SCHEDULE Set your exam date and the Dashboard counts down the days. When your readiness first crosses 75%, HamBeacon lets you know it may be time to book your exam and shows you where to find a session. BUILT FOR IPHONE, IPAD, AND MAC HamBeacon is a true native app on all three, not a website in a wrapper. Start a session on your iPhone on the bus, continue on your Mac at home, and your progress is simply there. Every study mode works offline. One purchase covers all your Apple devices. YOUR PROGRESS AT A GLANCE Add HamBeacon widgets to your iPhone or iPad Home Screen, your Lock Screen, or your Mac desktop. Your streak, today's progress, and your Readiness Meter stay in view, so five questions a day never slips your mind. STUDY AS A FAMILY Family Sharing is included, so your purchases cover your whole family group. Each person studies under their own Apple ID with their own private progress, so partners or parents and kids can work toward their licenses together. YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS No accounts. No ads. No analytics. No servers. HamBeacon syncs your progress between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac through your own iCloud account, the same way Apple Notes and Reminders do. ALL THREE US LICENSE CLASSES Technician, General, and Amateur Extra, each with the current official NCVEC question pool. New and revised pools are included free in app updates. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY Start free with 50 questions in Technician or General, or 75 in Amateur Extra, drawn from every topic area, with every feature unlocked and no time limit. Unlock a single class when you are ready, upgrade later at a credit for what you already own, or save with the All-Access Bundle covering all three. THOUGHTFULLY MADE Choose Light, Dark, or System appearance. Bookmark tricky questions, search the whole pool by keyword or question number, and set gentle study reminders to keep your streak going. HamBeacon is made by Blue Heron Data, an independent developer focused on privacy and craftsmanship on Apple platforms. 73, and good luck on your exam.
Morse Hub
This app helps aspiring ham radio operators learn and master Morse code. It offers adjustable speed and timing, practice modes for copying and sending, and realistic QSO simulations to prepare users for on-air communication.
- Learn Morse code characters
- Adjustable speed and Farnsworth timing
- Practice copying words and characters
- Sending practice with virtual straight key
- Realistic QSO simulations
- Customizable practice modes
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Morse Hub is a complete CW training app for new and aspiring ham radio operators. Whether you're just learning the alphabet or preparing for your first on-air QSO, Morse Hub guides you every step of the way. FEATURES: -Learn Morse Code — Master every character with adjustable speed and Farnsworth timing, the proven method used by experienced CW operators worldwide. -Improve My Code — Practice copying words, numbers, punctuation, and mixed characters at speeds you control. -Practice Copying — See exactly where you're missing characters with a three-strike reveal system, then use CUSTOM mode to focus practice on your weak letters. -Sending Practice — Develop your sending technique with a virtual straight key and multiple drill modes including letters, words, phrases, and full QSO simulations. -Realistic QSO Mode — Practice complete ham radio contacts with authentic callsigns, RST reports, and proper operating procedures. Want more? Morse Hub Complete offers advanced features, including FreeSend mode, the Full QSO Experience with realistic simulated two-way audio contacts, Koch method learning, Custom Words and Phrases, and QSO error check review — available now on the App Store and Google Play Visit the Morse Hub YouTube channel for tutorials. Master the Code.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Morse Hub at none against HamBeacon's 9. Morse Hub also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.2). On price, update cadence, 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. HamBeacon sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Morse Hub asks for nothing beyond the download.
HamBeacon ships an update every 2 weeks, Morse Hub every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HamBeacon | Morse Hub |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 26.2 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | William Morris | Thomas Sullivan |
In-app purchases
HamBeacon
- Upgrade: Technician to General$3.99
- Technician License Module$4.99
- General License Module$4.99
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- Upgrade: General to Amateur Extra$6.99
- Upgrade: Add Amateur Extra$6.99
- Amateur Extra License Module$7.99
- Upgrade: Tech to All-Access Bundle$9.99
- Upgrade: All-Access Bundle$9.99
- All-Access Bundle$14.99
Morse Hub
No in-app purchases









