Comparison

KeyUp Radio vs Wifi Rig CTRL

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

Head to head
About

KeyUp Radio

This app provides a modern interface for controlling amateur radio nodes. It allows users to discover nodes on their network, manage connections, and monitor real-time status. Designed for ham radio operators, it offers a streamlined experience for node management.

Highlights
  • Auto-discover AllStarLink nodes
  • Connect/disconnect links
  • One-tap presets
  • Real-time RX/TX status
  • Per-node management
  • Face ID protection
Features
Read full description

KeyUp is a fast, modern controller for your AllStarLink amateur-radio nodes — built for hams, by hams. Scan your local Wi-Fi to find your nodes, then connect and disconnect links, fire one-tap presets, watch real-time RX/TX and connected-node status, and manage everything from a clean iPhone and iPad interface. Features: • Auto-discover AllStarLink nodes on your network • Connect / disconnect links, permanent connects, disconnect-all • Five shared presets plus unlimited per-node presets • Live RX/TX and connected-node status • Per-node naming, Face ID protection, password autofill • Designed for ASL3 and HamVoIP nodes over the Asterisk Manager Interface (AMI) Private by design: KeyUp talks directly to your nodes on your local network. No ads, no tracking, no paywall — completely free. KeyUp is not affiliated with AllStarLink, Inc. Amateur radio license required to operate a node. Developed by Brandon Fowler (AE7BF) and Tyler Fowler (W7NTF).

About

Wifi Rig CTRL

Features
Read full description

WifiRigCTRL is an iPhone / iPad app for remotely operating your amateur-radio transceiver via a Raspberry Pi or ICOM CI-V (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth). Features: - Real-time RX frequency, mode and S-meter display - Change frequency, mode, power, squelch and filter width - RX audio playback through the speaker (with noise reduction) - PTT on/off and microphone transmit - CW Morse send and receive-decode (BLE / USB-NCM keyers) - RTTY AFSK transmit/receive (on-device software modem or via the Raspberry Pi's minimodem, with spectrum display) - FT8 / FT4 receive-decode and transmit - Automatic FT8 all-decode log to ~/ALL.TXT (WSJT-X compatible) - Band Scope (CAT single-sweep / native ICOM CI-V scope, with POTA/SOTA spots overlaid) - APRS beacon transmit (GPS) - QSO log (ADIF export, POTA/SOTA references) - Operating-location (JCC/JGC, grid) registration and operating sessions - eQSL auto-upload, Smart Ham Log integration, PSKReporter spotting - Band memory, POTA/SOTA spot integration (SP2ALART) - Multiple profiles, API-key auth, WireGuard VPN - Direct Wi-Fi / Bluetooth CI-V to Icom IC-705 / IC-9700 - One-tap Raspberry Pi SSH setup ■ Requirements (Important) This app does not work on its own. You need one of the following, owned by you: A Raspberry Pi Zero 2W that is already set up (connected to your radio, with Hamlib/FastAPI installed), or An IC-705 or IC-9700 (for a direct CI-V connection) Connect either one to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. Setup instructions and firmware for the Raspberry Pi are available on GitHub: https://github.com/ji1ore/M5CoreHamCAT ■ Intended Users This app is for licensed amateur radio operators who have a compatible radio setup. *This app contains no ads and no usage tracking. All data it collects is used only on your device and is never sent to an external server.

Screenshots

KeyUp Radio4 screens
Wifi Rig CTRL4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Wifi Rig CTRL at every 2 days against KeyUp Radio's every 3 weeks. On price, 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KeyUp Radio ships an update every 3 weeks, Wifi Rig CTRL every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
KeyUp Radio versus Wifi Rig CTRL: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKeyUp RadioWifi Rig CTRL
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBaldGuy LLCJIRO UENO

In-app purchases

None

KeyUp Radio

No in-app purchases

None

Wifi Rig CTRL

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is KeyUp Radio free?
KeyUp Radio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Wifi Rig CTRL free?
Wifi Rig CTRL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do KeyUp Radio or Wifi Rig CTRL have ads?
Neither KeyUp Radio nor Wifi Rig CTRL shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KeyUp Radio or Wifi Rig CTRL?
KeyUp Radio ships an update every 3 weeks, and Wifi Rig CTRL every 2 days. Most recently, KeyUp Radio was updated on October 25, 2026 and Wifi Rig CTRL on October 28, 2026.

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