Comparison

SVXLink vs HamThings PTT

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

Head to head
About

SVXLink

Features
Read full description

Control your RF.Guru hotspot over Bluetooth, watch the live feed, send DTMF, and explore the live reflector map from iPhone or iPad. HotSpot is the official mobile companion for the Analog HotSpot SVXLink platform. Pair once over Bluetooth Low Energy and the app takes over from there: read live SVXLink state, switch talkgroups, send DTMF, watch the reflector network on a real map, and keep an eye on your 4G uplink. What you can do: • Live state feed — callsign, frequency, current talkgroup, active and last talker, TX/RX flags, plus 4G signal bars when an LTE modem is fitted. • DTMF & device commands — full DTMF keypad with quick buttons (status, parrot, IP-announce) and a control menu for SVXLink start / stop / restart, 4G on / off, reboot and power-off. • Talkgroup quick-dial — buttons highlighted yellow for the talkgroups your hotspot is actively monitoring, grey for switchable ones, with a green "last heard X ago" timer on each when the live feed is on. • CTCSS info — output tone and the full input-CTCSS → talkgroup mapping shown on the Hotspot Info screen. • Live reflector map — OpenStreetMap-based view of every node on your reflector. Spiderfy clustering, colour-coded pins (red transmitting, green ON0 repeaters, orange nodes, blue AI-detected, grey offline), floating callsign labels on active talkers, and a glass info card on every pin tap. • Home radius — saves your QTH from GPS and frames the map at a configurable radius (default 150 km). One-tap re-center. • Reflector talker history — live, server-paged list of who's been on the network, sourced from the same WebSocket feed. • Auto-everything — auto-connect to your last hotspot on launch, auto-detect WSS support per reflector domain, auto-fetch the talkgroup labels from the portal, and fall back to Bluetooth-only mode when there's no internet. • Keep-screen-on with auto-sleep — optional, slider from 0 (never sleep) to 120 min. • Just Works pairing — no PIN, no fuss. Open-source hotspot firmware: github.com/Guru-RF/Analog-HotSPOT-SVXLink

About

HamThings PTT

Connect your ham radio to your iPhone for internet-based communication on DMR digital networks and analog SvxLink reflectors. Supports multiple networks and offers real-time push-to-talk, DMR features, and last heard information. Requires a valid amateur radio license.

Highlights
  • Real-time push-to-talk over IP
  • DMR digital network support
  • SvxLink analog reflector connectivity
  • Multi-network compatibility
  • Real-time Last Heard display
  • DMR text messaging
  • Background wake-up for calls
Features
Read full description

HamThings PTT brings your ham radio to your iPhone. Connect over the Internet and talk on DMR digital networks and analog SvxLink reflectors, wherever you are. For licensed radio amateurs. Multi-network: HamThings, BrandMeister and other IP servers, plus SvxLink reflectors. Features: Real-time push-to-talk over IP DMR: dual slot (TS1/TS2), group and private calls SvxLink: analog reflectors, always free Real-time Last Heard DMR text messaging Local or remote audio (transcoder) — your choice Background wake-up so you never miss a call Clean, fast interface The SvxLink (analog) protocol is always free. DMR features require a subscription; a free trial starts automatically the first time you open the app, so you can try everything. HamThings PTT is an independent project, made by hams for hams. A valid amateur radio license is required to transmit. Subscription details: HamThings PTT is an annual auto-renewing subscription. Payment will be charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it at any time in your Apple Account settings. Privacy policy: https://hamthings.it/privacy.html

Screenshots

SVXLink3 screens
HamThings PTT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SVXLink at none against HamThings PTT's 1. SVXLink also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). HamThings PTT's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. HamThings PTT sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $8.99 per year. SVXLink asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SVXLink ships an update every 5 weeks, HamThings PTT every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SVXLink versus HamThings PTT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSVXLinkHamThings PTT
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRF GuruGiacomo De Angelis

In-app purchases

None

SVXLink

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

HamThings PTT

Subscriptions1
  • HamThings PTT (yearly)$8.991 Year

Questions

Is SVXLink free?
SVXLink is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HamThings PTT free?
HamThings PTT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SVXLink or HamThings PTT have ads?
Neither SVXLink nor HamThings PTT shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SVXLink or HamThings PTT?
SVXLink ships an update every 5 weeks, and HamThings PTT every 4 days. Most recently, SVXLink was updated on October 25, 2026 and HamThings PTT on October 24, 2026.

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