Comparison

Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder vs FT8 Hero Remote

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

Head to head
About

Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder

Features
Read full description

Morse code becomes far more useful when you can do more than look it up. MORSE gives you one clean workspace to translate a message, hear or send a signal, build real listening and keying skills, and keep the tools you need close at hand. Translate and send right away • Convert text to Morse code and Morse code back to text • Work with seven writing and code systems: International Morse, Chinese telegraph code, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Greek and Arabic • Send signals with sound, haptics, the flashlight or screen flashes • Choose playback speed and carrier tone, or start with ready-to-use common phrases Learn to hear it—not just read it • Follow 174 structured lessons across 29 units and six activity types • Build skills in Koch order through recognition, listening, comparison, sending, applied practice and challenges • Progress from characters and numbers to punctuation, prosigns, Q codes, callsigns and complete QSOs • Take a free 15-question daily test shaped by your current progress and previously learned weak points • Track accuracy, best scores, course progress and practice streaks • Pro unlocks the remaining 150 lessons, focused listening, Head Copy and weakness drills, plus full WPM, tone and Farnsworth controls Read real signals when you need to • See a provisional dot-dash and text preview while recording; after you stop, MORSE analyzes the full recording and produces a corrected result • Import audio, video or images containing Morse signals • Let MORSE analyze carrier tone and timing, with status and confidence feedback • Core media analysis runs on your device instead of sending signal content to a cloud recognition service Communicate, save and share • Enter dots and dashes with a Morse key and see the decoded text as you type • Exchange Morse messages directly with another nearby device; Pro adds optional 4-digit PIN content protection • Keep history and favorites, then reopen an item to continue editing • Export text and Morse signal cards for free; Pro adds WAV audio export • Import or export a local backup of your training progress Start free. Unlock Pro once. MORSE is free to download. Core text conversion is unlimited, and basic signal output, character references, daily tests, the first 24 lessons and nearby communication without a PIN are free to use. Microphone, audio, video and image recognition share one successful free experience. There are no ads, subscriptions or automatic renewals. MORSE PRO is a one-time non-consumable purchase that permanently unlocks Pro features. Your localized price is shown by the App Store, and previous purchases can be restored. New ways to practice Practice receiving Morse with keyboard answers and character-by-character feedback in Pro. Try straight-key input for free to work on the timing of dots and dashes.

About

FT8 Hero Remote

Control your FT8 radio station remotely from your iPhone or iPad. See decoded stations, manage calls, and log contacts from anywhere, ensuring your radio stays safely in your shack. Requires a paired desktop application.

Highlights
  • Remote radio operation
  • Live decoded station display
  • Initiate CQ calls
  • Respond to CQ calls
  • Band and mode selection
  • Log QSO confirmation
  • Live waterfall display
Features
Read full description

FT8 Hero Remote is the iPhone and iPad remote for the FT8 Hero desktop app. Operate your own FT8 station from anywhere while the radio stays in the shack. The FT8 Hero desktop app runs beside WSJT-X on the shack computer and relays what the radio hears. This app shows it to you live: every decoded station, who is calling CQ, who is calling you, the band, the mode, the period clock — and takes back what you tap. • Tap a CQ to answer it. WSJT-X arms the transmitter and Auto Seq runs the contact. • CALL CQ presses WSJT-X's own Tx 6. STOP TX is never refused. • Band Activity and Rx Frequency lists, exactly as WSJT-X shows them. • Change band and mode, select any of the six messages, Monitor, Decode, Tune. • Confirm WSJT-X's Log QSO dialog from wherever you are. Contacts go to your QSL World logbook and, with a key, to QRZ Logbook. • A live picture of the waterfall. • Safety built in: a dropped connection halts the transmitter, only one operator at a time, and nothing keys the radio without a paired device. Pair once by scanning the QR code the desktop app shows. No account, no port forwarding, no dynamic DNS: the shack dials out, the phone dials in, and they meet at the relay. Requires the free FT8 Hero desktop app for Mac, Windows or Linux from ft8hero.com, running beside WSJT-X 2.5 or later (or JTDX). Five contacts are free; after that a licence from ft8hero.com keeps the station on the air.

Screenshots

Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder4 screens
FT8 Hero Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FT8 Hero Remote at none against Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder's 1. FT8 Hero Remote also leads on update cadence (daily vs fortnightly). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FT8 Hero Remote asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder ships an update fortnightly, FT8 Hero Remote daily. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder versus FT8 Hero Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMorse Code Trainer, CW DecoderFT8 Hero Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVislabiDream Interactive

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder

One-time1
  • MORSE PRO One-Time Unlock$8.99
None

FT8 Hero Remote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder free?
Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FT8 Hero Remote free?
FT8 Hero Remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder or FT8 Hero Remote have ads?
Neither Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder nor FT8 Hero Remote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder or FT8 Hero Remote?
Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder ships an update fortnightly, and FT8 Hero Remote daily. Most recently, Morse Code Trainer, CW Decoder was updated on October 10, 2026 and FT8 Hero Remote on October 20, 2026.

Other comparisons