VibeSDR vs HamThings PTT
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VibeSDR
This app acts as a versatile receiver client for various software-defined radio servers. It offers advanced display, tuning, and audio features, along with on-device decoders and voice control for a comprehensive radio experience.
- Connects to multiple SDR server protocols
- GPU-rendered waterfall and spectrum display
- Native background audio playback
- On-device decoders for RTTY, NAVTEX, WEFAX, SSTV, Morse
- Voice control via Siri
- CarPlay and Apple Watch integration
- Deep linking for station tuning
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VibeSDR is a mobile-first software-defined radio (SDR) receiver — and far more than a single-server client. It speaks multiple SDR server protocols and does its own demodulation of the raw IQ with a clean-room DSP engine. Pair that with a GPU-rendered waterfall, native background audio, on-device decoders and maps, plus voice and in-car control, for a genuinely great SDR experience on any iPhone — whatever receiver is behind it. WHAT YOU CAN CONNECT TO • Remote SDR servers — native support for UberSDR, OpenWebRX / OpenWebRX+, and KiwiSDR, all behind one interface, with a directory chooser in the instance picker. • Networked rtl_tcp — connect to a remote rtl_tcp server and VibeSDR demodulates the raw IQ itself. DISPLAY & WATERFALL • Custom GPU waterfall and spectrum, rendered with a Skia shader for a smooth, high-frame-rate display independent of the server. • Portrait and landscape layouts, ProMotion 120 Hz, haptic tuning feedback. • Classic colour palettes (GQRX, KiwiSDR, CuteSDR, SdrDx, OpenWebRX), VFO glow controls, and a spectrum backdrop image. TUNING & CONTROLS • VFO drum with inertia scrolling and a dual-drum waterfall zoom. • Full mode set — USB, LSB, AM, SAM, FM, NFM, CW — with passband sliders. • Noise reduction, noise blanker, squelch, AGC, volume and mute. AUDIO • Native audio engines running outside any WebView, so playback survives app suspension. • Background audio on both platforms. • Lock-screen, Now Playing, CarPlay and Apple Watch controls with frequency + station metadata and station/bookmark skipping. • AAC recorder with share sheet. VOICE CONTROL • Siri — "Hey Siri, tune VibeSDR" then a frequency, a station name, or a band; it tunes with the right demodulator and step, even in the background over headphones, CarPlay or the lock screen. DECODERS & MAPS • On-device decoders — RTTY, NAVTEX, WEFAX, SSTV, Morse, and speech-to-text. • Server maps — HFDL aircraft, digital and CW activity maps, fully embedded. STATIONS & BOOKMARKS • Instance picker directory across UberSDR, OpenWebRX/OpenWebRX+ and KiwiSDR receivers, with country flags, favourites and an auto-connect default. • Bookmark and band-plan search with live EiBi schedules. • Visual Tuning System (VTS) — nearby-station bar, band-crossing popups and station skipping. • Live chat, and Share a tuned station as a tappable deep link. NEW: DEEP LINKING • Tap a vibesdr:// link to connect straight to a receiver and tune to the shared frequency — no hunting through the picker. VibeSDR is free software under the GNU GPL-3.0, built by Stuart Carr with AI assistance from Claude (Anthropic). VibeSDR is a receiver client and is not affiliated with the SDR servers it connects to.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: VibeSDR at 100% against HamThings PTT's 0%. VibeSDR also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). HamThings PTT's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). On ratings volume, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
HamThings PTT is free to download; VibeSDR costs $2.99 up front. HamThings PTT sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $8.99 per year. VibeSDR asks for nothing beyond the download.
VibeSDR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of VibeSDR's written reviews are positive against 0% of HamThings PTT's.
VibeSDR ships an update every 2 weeks, HamThings PTT every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 6, 2026.
| Parameter | VibeSDR | HamThings PTT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 3.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Stuart Carr | Giacomo De Angelis |
Customer experience
VibeSDR
HamThings PTT
In-app purchases
VibeSDR
No in-app purchases
HamThings PTT
- HamThings PTT (yearly)$8.991 Year









