Sidetone CW vs Morse Code Trainer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Sidetone CW
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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: β’ 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. β’ 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. β’ Intuitive Input: Send your Morse code using the app's responsive, circular key and get immediate visual and audio feedback on your timing. β’ No Login Required: Sidetone respects your privacy. Open the app and start practicing right awayβno 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!
Morse Code Trainer
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Every inch of the screen is your straight key. Press anywhere to send β it lights up and plays a sidetone. RECEIVE β the Koch method with Farnsworth timing. Start with two characters at real-world speed (15-25 WPM) and unlock the next at 90% accuracy, through 40 levels. The answer pad shows only the characters you have learned, so there is nothing to second-guess. SEND β real-time decoding with automatic dit/dah calibration. Watch yourself descend the Morse code tree with every keypress: hold for left, tap for right, with dot and dash waypoints always showing where the next press leads. Targets grow from single letters to common CW abbreviations and callsigns. CHART β the full alphabet, numbers and punctuation. Tap any row to hear it at your configured speed and tone. SETTINGS β character speed 15-25 WPM, effective (Farnsworth) speed 5-15 WPM, sidetone 400-1000 Hz, key haptics. Volume follows the silent switch. PRICING β all training features are free, with no ads. A one-time Pro (Supporter Pack) purchase adds alternate app icons, theme colors and a 30-day progress chart. Everything stays on your device β no account, no tracking, fully offline.
Screenshots
Verdict
Sidetone CW and Morse Code Trainer are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters β price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them β neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Sidetone CW sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Morse Code Trainer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Sidetone CW | Morse Code Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | β | Every 6 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Michel Cato | TAKUYA KONO |
In-app purchases
Sidetone CW
- Buy me a coffee$1.99
Morse Code Trainer
- Pro (Supporter Pack)$3.99





