MorseCAT vs LemurKey
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MorseCAT
Learn Morse code by sound at real operating speeds from day one. Practice listening to characters and keying them back, with tools to track your progress and simulate real-world radio communications. Unlock additional arcade-style games and advanced drills with a one-time purchase.
- Instant Character Recognition (ICR) training
- Listen & Learn sound-based introduction
- Keying back practice with hardware support
- Per-character mastery heatmap
- QSO simulator for realistic exchanges
- Offline functionality
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Learn Morse code the way high-speed operators actually hear it: as sounds, not dots and dashes. MorseCAT is an Instant Character Recognition (ICR) trainer. Every character is sent at real speed from day one — you never count elements, you learn the sound. Then you answer the way an operator would: key it back. LEARNING IS FREE. FOREVER. • The full guided path — every letter, number, and prosign, in the proven CW Academy order • Listen & Learn — hear each character introduced as pure sound • Listen & Say — say the character out loud and MorseCAT grades you by ear • Free Practice — your speed, your character set, whenever • Word Patterns and weekly LICW class groups — drill exactly what your class covers • Progress that means something: a per-character mastery heatmap, recognition-time tracking, a copy-ceiling benchmark, streaks, and a proficiency rank ANSWER LIKE AN OPERATOR Hear a character, key it back. Use the on-screen straight key, the touch paddle, or plug in real hardware — Bluetooth MIDI keyers and paddles (TinyMIDI, HaliKey, VBand-style interfaces) take over automatically the moment they connect. Motor memory in, guesswork out. REAL SPEED, HONEST NUMBERS Characters always sound at your character speed (default 32 wpm, floor 25) — fast enough that there's no time to count elements, which is the whole point. Difficulty comes from closing the gaps, Farnsworth-style, never from slowing the code down. MorseCAT measures your time-to-recognize on every single character, so you always know which ones are instant and which ones still make you think. MORSECAT PRO — ONE PURCHASE, YOURS FOREVER A single one-time unlock (no subscription, ever) opens the arcade and the airwaves: • Key Invaders — read the falling words, shoot them by keying them • Ice Dash — an arcade sprint for your sending hand • The full QSO simulator — realistic contest and club exchanges: SST, POTA hunting, CWT, SKCC, and LICW scenarios, with band noise and fading if you want it • Advanced push drills — the Miss Drill and Send Sprint Code Invaders, single-caller QSOs (5 a day), and every learning tool stay free — and the whole arcade opens free for ten minutes every day, so you can try it before you decide. NO NONSENSE • No account. No ads. No tracking. • Works offline — practice on a plane, in a park, anywhere • Your progress lives on your phone, nowhere else Whether you're prepping for your first POTA hunt, keeping up with your LICW class, or chasing 40 wpm head-copy, MorseCAT meets your ear where it is and pushes it — one instantly-recognized character at a time. 73, and happy keying.
LemurKey
This app provides Morse code receiving practice for callsigns, sentences, and two-way contacts. It features adjustable settings, a Koch-style learning mode, and simulated interference for realistic training. Compete with friends on leaderboards and track your progress.
- Morse receiving practice
- Adjustable WPM and spacing
- Scripted two-way QSO mode
- Live DX band conditions
- Koch-style learning mode
- Simulated interference options
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LemurKey is Morse receiving practice built to practice real copy skills — callsigns, sentences, and two-way QSOs. Compete your friends with Strava-style leaderboards and go for the crown! COPY PRACTICE • Word, Callsign, and Sentence modes with slot-based copy • Adjustable WPM, character spacing, tone, and volume • Stars & Watts for clean copies; scrubber unlocks after you listen QSO MODE • Scripted two-way contacts: copy each transmission, then reply • Live accuracy feedback through the exchange LIVE DX • Band conditions and spots tailored to your grid square • Optional location for home grid (when-in-use only) TRAIN • Koch-style Learn mode to build speed character by character • Learn to send Q codes; practice sending by recall • Keys mode to hear any letter at your session settings CHAOS MODE • Optional QRM, QRN, and QSB while copying • Higher watt multipliers when the band gets noisy ACCOUNT (OPTIONAL) • Sign in to sync progress, compete on leaderboards, and back up stats • Delete your account anytime from Account Works offline for practice once installed. Audio runs locally on your device. Privacy policy: https://lemurkey.app/privacy.html Support: support@lemurkey.app
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: LemurKey at 5.0 against MorseCAT's 4.0. LemurKey also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (6 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. MorseCAT sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. LemurKey asks for nothing beyond the download.
LemurKey holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LemurKey has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
| Parameter | MorseCAT | LemurKey |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aspen Ventures, LLC | Steve Metcalf |
Customer experience
MorseCAT
LemurKey
In-app purchases
MorseCAT
- MorseCAT Pro$4.99
LemurKey
No in-app purchases









