RadioMail vs AllStar Node Control
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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/
AllStar Node Control
This app offers a streamlined way to manage your local AllStar node, replacing complex web interfaces with a modern mobile experience. It allows for quick links, directory searches, favorites, maintenance, and macro configuration. The app automatically scans your network and configures nodes for easy setup.
- One-touch quick links
- Global AllStar and EchoLink directory search
- Favorite node setup
- Node maintenance tasks
- Command macro configuration
- Automatic local network scanning
- One-time purchase
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AllStar Node Control replaces heavyweight web apps and outdated mobile apps with a clean, modern approach to managing your local AllStar node. Save one-touch quick links, search the entire AllStar and EchoLink global directories, set up favorites, run node maintenance tasks and configure command macros. Node Control scans your local network for AllStarLink nodes and configures them automatically - just add your manager credentials and you're on the air! Your one time purchase helps support software made by a ham, for hams. No ads, no subscriptions, no surprises. Check out my other mobile apps for other great ham radio goodness. I also make the most capable mobile FT8/FT4 station anywhere. AllStar Node Control is not affiliated with or endorsed by AllStarLink, Inc.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: RadioMail at Free against AllStar Node Control's $0.99. RadioMail also leads on ratings volume (14 vs 1) and iOS requirement (18.5 vs 26.5). AllStar Node Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). On update cadence, 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; AllStar Node Control costs $0.99 up front. RadioMail sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per year. AllStar Node Control asks for nothing beyond the download.
AllStar Node Control holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RadioMail has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of RadioMail's written reviews are positive against 100% of AllStar Node Control's.
RadioMail ships an update every 9 days, AllStar Node Control every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | RadioMail | AllStar Node Control |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (14 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 — better | 26.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Island Magic Co. | JONATHAN MARK SCHULMAN |
Customer experience
RadioMail
AllStar Node Control
In-app purchases
RadioMail
- Yearly Subscription$11.991 Year
- One-Time Purchase$49.99
AllStar Node Control
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is RadioMail free?
Is AllStar Node Control free?
Which has better reviews, RadioMail or AllStar Node Control?
Do RadioMail or AllStar Node Control have ads?
Which is updated more often, RadioMail or AllStar Node Control?
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