Comparison

Greyline FT8 vs Handi

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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!

About

Handi

This app serves as a central hub for amateur radio operators, enabling them to connect their transceivers to mobile devices. It facilitates radio programming, messaging, mapping, and packet-radio communications.

Highlights
  • Radio channel management
  • APRS messaging
  • Winlink email
  • Packet terminal
  • Interactive map
  • File exchange
Features
Read full description

HTCommander is a comprehensive companion for amateur radio operators using EchoLink or supported Bluetooth-enabled transceivers. Connect your radio to your iPhone or iPad and manage programming, messaging, mapping, and packet-radio communications from one application. KEY FEATURES - Configure, organize, import, and export radio channels - Send and receive APRS messages - Inspect packet details and select APRS routing paths - Request weather reports and use supported APRS services - Display APRS stations and position reports on an interactive map - Compose, send, and receive Winlink email with attachments - Communicate through the packet terminal - Operate a built-in bulletin board system - Capture and decode received packets - Manage APRS, Winlink, and terminal contacts - Use supported radio GPS information - Exchange files over compatible packet-radio links SUPPORTED RADIOS HTCommander supports selected models from BTECH, Radioddity, Vero, and Radtel, including the UV-Pro, UV-50Pro, GA-5WB, DB50-B Mini, VR-N75, VR-N76, VR-N7500, VR-N7600, and RT-660. An amateur radio license is required to transmit. Operators are responsible for following local regulations, band plans, and licensing requirements.

Screenshots

Greyline FT84 screens
Handi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Handi at Free against Greyline FT8's $3.99. Handi also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and device support (4 vs 2). Greyline FT8's advantage is review sentiment (90% vs 50%) and chart position (#177 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Handi is free to download; Greyline FT8 costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Handi holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 4 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 90% of Greyline FT8's written reviews are positive against 50% of Handi's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Greyline FT8 ships an update every 4 days, Handi every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Greyline FT8 versus Handi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGreyline FT8Handi
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (12 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#177 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS26.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB62 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJONATHAN MARK SCHULMANYlian Saint-Hilaire

Customer experience

Greyline FT8

All ratings12 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative0.0%

Handi

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Greyline FT8

No in-app purchases

None

Handi

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Greyline FT8 free?
Greyline FT8 costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Handi free?
Handi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Greyline FT8 or Handi?
Handi is rated higher. Greyline FT8 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Handi averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Greyline FT8 or Handi have ads?
Neither Greyline FT8 nor Handi shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Greyline FT8 or Handi?
Greyline FT8 ships an update every 4 days, and Handi every 2 days. Most recently, Greyline FT8 was updated on October 3, 2026 and Handi on October 14, 2026.

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