Comparison

Greyline FT8 vs SP2ALERT

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
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

SP2ALERT

Features
Read full description

SP2ALERT is an alert app for amateur radio operators that delivers real-time push notifications for new POTA (Parks on the Air) and SOTA (Summits on the Air) spots. ■ POTA / SOTA Spot Alerts Automatically detects new spots and sends push notifications — even when the app is in the background. ■ Three Alert Modes (foreground only) • CW Vibration — vibrates in Morse code pattern (adjustable WPM and amplitude) • CW Tone — plays Morse code through the speaker (300–1500 Hz pitch) • Voice — reads spot information aloud (phonetic alphabet supported) ■ Flexible Filtering • Filter by band and mode (all bands from 160m to 13cm supported) • Filter by POTA program (JP, K, VK, etc.) or SOTA association • Include/exclude specific callsigns, park references, or summit references • Save and switch between multiple named presets ■ Hunt / Chase Management • Import POTA Hunt and SOTA Chase history via CSV • Alert only for unworked parks and summits • Multi-location activations (same operator at multiple parks) are always alerted even if one park is already hunted ■ Notification Controls • Configurable polling interval • Alert time window (e.g. 7:00–22:59 only) • Re-alert interval • Alert expiry timer • Additional alert on frequency/mode change ■ English / Japanese Localization The UI automatically switches between English and Japanese based on your device language setting. 【iOS Limitations】 Background operation is limited to notification banners and sounds. CW tone, voice, and vibration alerts only work while the app is in the foreground. Background polling timing is controlled by iOS and may be delayed beyond the configured interval.

Screenshots

Greyline FT84 screens
SP2ALERT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SP2ALERT at Free against Greyline FT8's $3.99. SP2ALERT also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 days) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.5). On ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

SP2ALERT is free to download; Greyline FT8 costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Greyline FT8 ships an update every 4 days, SP2ALERT every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Greyline FT8 versus SP2ALERT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGreyline FT8SP2ALERT
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (12 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.516.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJONATHAN MARK SCHULMANJIRO UENO

In-app purchases

None

Greyline FT8

No in-app purchases

None

SP2ALERT

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Greyline FT8 free?
Greyline FT8 costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SP2ALERT free?
SP2ALERT is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Greyline FT8 or SP2ALERT have ads?
Neither Greyline FT8 nor SP2ALERT shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Greyline FT8 or SP2ALERT?
Greyline FT8 ships an update every 4 days, and SP2ALERT every 2 days. Most recently, Greyline FT8 was updated on October 3, 2026 and SP2ALERT on October 12, 2026.

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