Spectrum SDR (RTL vs nRF Matter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Spectrum SDR (RTL
Explore radio signals with your RTL-SDR dongle. Listen to AM/FM/SSB/CW, view FFT and waterfall displays, and customize your experience. Requires a remote rtl_tcp instance over WiFi.
- Full frequency range support
- AM, FM, SSB, CW reception
- FFT and Waterfall displays
- Adjustable sample rates
- Bias tee and gain controls
- Squelch functionality
- Customizable display options
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This application is about having a bit of fun with those amazing little RTL-SDR dongles, whilst listening to AM/FM/SSB/CW radio signals. It's nice and easy to use so why not give it a try? - Covers the full frequency range of your RTL-SDR dongle. - AM and FM, wide and narrow, SSB, CW. - FFT and Waterfall displays. - Sample rates 240000 Hz to 2160000 Hz. - Bias tee control. - 75 presets over 5 pages. - Gain controls. - Squelch. - Flexible display options, hide things you don't need to see. - Built-in help. The application needs to be connected to an instance of rtl_tcp running on a remote computer, most likely over WiFi. You will need a good network connection for this to work reliably when using the higher sample rates. It can be installed on an iPhone, iPad or Apple Silicon Mac. We hope you enjoy using this application.
nRF Matter
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nRF Matter is a developer-focused sample application demonstrating how to build and interact with Matter-enabled devices. See how Matter-enabled devices are commissioned, connected, controlled, and managed in practice. In addition to standard Matter functionality, the app includes examples of cluster extensions, manufacturer-specific clusters, and light-switch binding, making it a practical reference for developers implementing advanced Matter features and custom device behaviours.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: nRF Matter at none against Spectrum SDR (RTL's 1. Spectrum SDR (RTL's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs monthly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Spectrum SDR (RTL sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. nRF Matter asks for nothing beyond the download.
Spectrum SDR (RTL ships an update every 11 days, nRF Matter monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Spectrum SDR (RTL | nRF Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 85 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | James Mainwaring | Nordic Semiconductor ASA |
In-app purchases
Spectrum SDR (RTL
- Full Version$2.99
nRF Matter
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Spectrum SDR (RTL free?
Is nRF Matter free?
Do Spectrum SDR (RTL or nRF Matter have ads?
Which is updated more often, Spectrum SDR (RTL or nRF Matter?
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