Comparison

Sidetone CW vs Morse Code Trainer

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

Head to head
About

Sidetone CW

Features
Read full description

Sidetone is the ultimate app for anyone looking to learn Morse code (CW) from scratch or sharpen their existing telegraphy skills. Whether you're a curious beginner or a ham radio operator wanting to increase your speed, Sidetone offers the tools you need in a clean, modern, and ad-free interface. KEY FEATURES: โ€ข Learn with the Koch Method: Build your speed the right way. Sidetone uses the highly effective Koch method, which trains your ears to recognize characters at full speed from day one, preventing the bad habit of counting slow dots and dashes. โ€ข AI-Powered QSO Simulator: Train for the real world! Our smart simulator uses an external API to generate realistic radio contacts (QSOs). Practice sending and receiving exchanges just like on the actual bands, giving you the confidence you need before sitting down at the rig. โ€ข Intuitive Input: Send your Morse code using the app's responsive, circular key and get immediate visual and audio feedback on your timing. โ€ข No Login Required: Sidetone respects your privacy. Open the app and start practicing right awayโ€”no accounts or passwords needed. Sidetone is a passion project created for the love of amateur radio and coding. The app is completely free to use, but if you enjoy it and want to help support the server costs (and fuel the developer's coffee intake), there's a voluntary tip jar in the settings. Fire up Sidetone, put on your headphones, and start your CW journey today. 73!

About

Morse Code Trainer

Features
Read full description

Learn Morse code the way real operators do โ€” by tapping it out until the rhythm lives in your hands. Most Morse apps just show you a chart and call it a day. MorseTap makes you fluent. A live telegraph key reads your dots and dashes as you press, a Koch-method path ramps your real words-per-minute, and a two-way translator lets you flash any message the moment you type it. You hear the tone, feel the haptic, and see the light โ€” three channels drilling the code into memory at once. WHAT YOU GET - A real telegraph key under your thumb that decodes your keying into letters, live - Instant two-way translation: type text to Morse, or read dots and dashes back to plain words - Broadcast any message as flashlight blinks, audio tone, and haptic pulses at your chosen speed - A Koch-method lesson path that builds you letter by letter from E ยท T to the full alphabet, numbers, punctuation and prosigns - Timed quizzes that test recall and track your best score - A mastery heatmap, XP levels, and daily streaks so you can watch fluency build PERFECT FOR - Ham and amateur radio operators drilling toward on-air CW speed - Preppers and outdoors people who want SOS and emergency signaling in their hands - Scouts, students, and puzzle fans learning the code for the challenge - Anyone curious about the history of the telegraph WHY NOT JUST USE A CHART? A chart teaches your eyes; it never teaches your ears or your thumb. Real Morse fluency is muscle memory and sound recognition โ€” the exact two things MorseTap drills every session while a static reference table cannot. PRIVACY Everything stays on your device. No account, no tracking, and the whole app works fully offline. FULL ACCESS The free version covers the first lessons and core letters so you can start today. Unlock everything โ€” the full Koch lesson path, the live Tap Trainer, the complete quiz pool, numbers, punctuation and prosigns โ€” with MorseTap Pro: - Weekly subscription - Yearly subscription (with a 3-day free trial) - Lifetime one-time purchase Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends; manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Tap out your first SOS today and feel the code click. Terms of Use (EULA): https://web-levi.web.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://web-levi.web.app/privacy-policy Questions? tphuc.work@gmail.com

Screenshots

Sidetone CW4 screens
Morse Code Trainer4 screens

Verdict

The call

Sidetone CW and Morse Code Trainer are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters โ€” price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them โ€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Sidetone CW sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Morse Code Trainer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Sidetone CW versus Morse Code Trainer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidetone CWMorse Code Trainer
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyโ€”Every 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size3 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichel CatoPhuc Pham

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Sidetone CW

One-time1
  • Buy me a coffee$1.99
3 purchases

Morse Code Trainer

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Yearly$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$29.99

Questions

Is Sidetone CW free?
Sidetone CW is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Morse Code Trainer free?
Morse Code Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sidetone CW or Morse Code Trainer have ads?
Neither Sidetone CW nor Morse Code Trainer shows ads.

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