Greyline FT8 vs RadioMail
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Greyline FT8
This app provides a portable digital ham radio experience for field operations on iOS devices. It automates callsign lookups, displays real-time spot data, and offers automated calling or manual control for QSOs. Features include intelligent frequency selection, audio delay adjustment, and direct logging to QRZ.
- Field-ready digital ham radio
- Automated callsign and DXCC lookups
- Real-time PSK Reporter spot data
- Automated CQ Gatherer and Hunter modes
- Intelligent automatic frequency selection
- Direct-to-QRZ logging and ADI export
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Greyline FT8 is a highly portable, capable amateur radio app designed specifically for field operation with an iOS device. I designed this app because I got very used to my full-stack FT8 solution: GridTracker, WSJT-X, PSK Reporter, WRL Desktop, several browser tabs, and more. But I didn't want the bulk and weight of a full Windows PC in the field. At the same time, while there are excellent and lightweight FT8 iOS solutions out there, they were lacking features I really wanted. Greyline is everything you need and nothing you don't. It automatically locates your grid square, performs callsign and calling station DXCC lookups (internet access required), and can even show you real-time spot data from PSK Reporter. Want to adjust your directional antenna? Now you've got the info you need to do it! Greyline also incorporates automated calling features. Gatherer mode calls CQ, responds to the first reply it gets, finishes the QSO and returns to calling CQ all without your input. On the other side of things, Hunter mode listens for CQ calls and pounces on them, finishing a QSO then returning to the live band to find the next. Or, take control of the conversation yourself with standard mode. That's the experience you're already used to from WSJT-X and other digital mode apps. Some other noteworthy features are: - Intelligent automatic free frequency selection - Dynamically adjusted audio delay for virtually drift-free message timing - PSK Reporter integrated Live Spots - Direct-to-QRZ, WRL and private Cloudlog logging and ADI export - Configurable waterfall settings - CQ addendums - CQ filtering for contesting and general courteous operation - Configurable retransmissions - Intelligent log recovery (didn't get that last 73 but want to log the contact anyway? Now you can!) - Log import and export - Antenna tuning - POTA Autospotting - One touch POTA activation and POTA.app-compatible ADIF export - Multiple POTA activation support - And so much more! Greyline uses audio VOX and not serial PTT. Most radios support this with simple cabling or an audio interface like a Digirig. For helpful tips on cabling and configuring popular radios, visit the Support URL below. Built by a ham, for hams, I'm very open to your feedback and hope Greyline can be your field companion. Want to share your own Field Notes (https://greylineft8.com/fieldnotes.html)? Email me at support@greylineft8.com!
RadioMail
Access the Winlink amateur radio email system from your Apple devices. Send and receive messages over the internet or amateur radio, manage your inbox, and stay connected off-grid. Requires a valid amateur radio license.
- Send/receive email over internet or radio
- Background message checking
- Connect via Packet, ARDOP, VARA FM/HF
- Peer-to-peer email exchange
- Winlink station directory with best path prediction
- Smart mailboxes for organization
- Send resized photos over radio
- Compose and view Winlink forms
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RadioMail gives you access to the Winlink amateur radio email system from your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Silicon Mac. Send and receive email over the internet or amateur radio, manage your messages, and stay connected when you’re away from traditional communications. A valid amateur radio license is required. SEND YOUR WAY Send and receive email over Wi-Fi or cellular when you’re online, or hold messages for your next radio session. RadioMail can also check for new messages in the background and notify you when they arrive. GET ON THE AIR Connect to Winlink stations using Packet, ARDOP, or VARA FM and HF. RadioMail works with a growing range of radios, TNCs, and software modems, and lets you save multiple devices so they’re ready when you need them. Supported radios: * BTECH UV-PRO, UV-50PRO * VERO VR-N76, VR-N7600 * RADIODITY GA-5WB, DB50-B * Kenwood TH-D74 and TH-D75 with B.B. Link adapter * Icom IC-705 over Bluetooth + USB, or Wi-Fi * PicoAPRS V4 Supported KISS TNCs and software modems: * Mobilinkd * DigiPi * Dire Wolf * LiNK500 VARA FM and HF require a VARA modem running on a separate computer. Packet and VARA FM also support configurable digipeaters. PACKET AND ARDOP BUILT IN No separate modem is needed for supported setups. RadioMail includes built-in 1200 baud Packet and ARDOP modems that work with: * Digirig Lite * AIOC (All-In-One Cable) * Icom IC-705 PEER-TO-PEER EMAIL Exchange email directly with another station using Packet or ARDOP. RadioMail can listen for incoming peer-to-peer connections, making it easy for another station to reach you. FIND THE BEST STATION Browse the Winlink station directory and use Best Path Prediction to find stations you’re most likely to reach. Save favorites for quick access or add your own stations for peer-to-peer operation. KEEP EMAIL ORGANIZED Search your mail, flag important messages, and quickly find unread messages, attachments, forms, and today’s email with Smart Mailboxes. Select multiple messages at once when it’s time to clean up. SEND PHOTOS OVER RADIO Take a photo or choose one from your library. RadioMail can resize it to reduce transfer time over radio. Received attachments can be previewed, saved, or shared with other apps. USE WINLINK FORMS Compose and view standard Winlink forms without leaving RadioMail. Forms update automatically, and location fields can use your current GPS position. Search the Forms Library to find the form you need, or import your own custom forms from ZIP files. On iPhone, an experimental mobile layout makes supported forms easier to fill out on a smaller screen. SHARE YOUR POSITION Send your current location as a Winlink position report for publication on the APRS network. USE YOUR CONTACTS Send mail from your primary Winlink callsign or tactical addresses, and address messages to Winlink or Internet email recipients. RadioMail suggests people and lists from your Contacts as you type. MADE FOR IPHONE, IPAD, AND MAC Use RadioMail on the device that works best for you. On iPad, a three-column layout makes the most of the larger screen, and compose windows can open separately with Windowed Apps. RadioMail for iPad also runs on Apple Silicon Macs. STAY IN SYNC WITH ICLOUD Your messages, stations, and account information stay in sync through iCloud, so you can move between your devices and continue where you left off. RadioMail is independently developed and is not affiliated with the Amateur Radio Safety Foundation, Inc. (ARSFI), which supports the Winlink Global Radio Email system. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: RadioMail at Free against Greyline FT8's $3.99. RadioMail also leads on iOS requirement (18.5 vs 26.5). Greyline FT8's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (90% vs 75%). On rating, ratings volume, 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
RadioMail is free to download; Greyline FT8 costs $3.99 up front. RadioMail sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per year. Greyline FT8 asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Greyline FT8 against 4.8 for RadioMail. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 14 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of Greyline FT8's written reviews are positive against 75% of RadioMail's.
Greyline FT8 ships an update every 4 days, RadioMail every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | Greyline FT8 | RadioMail |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.9 (15 ratings) — better | 4.8 (14 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews — better | 75.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | 14 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Every 9 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #150 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.5 | 18.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | JONATHAN MARK SCHULMAN | Island Magic Co. |
Customer experience
Greyline FT8
RadioMail
In-app purchases
Greyline FT8
No in-app purchases
RadioMail
- Yearly Subscription$11.991 Year
- One-Time Purchase$49.99








