# aprs.fi vs qth locator

The clearest difference is price: qth locator at Free against aprs.fi's $6.99. qth locator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). aprs.fi's advantage is chart position (#27 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

qth locator is free to download; aprs.fi costs $6.99 up front. aprs.fi sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. qth locator asks for nothing beyond the download.

aprs.fi ships an update fortnightly, qth locator every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | aprs.fi | qth locator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $6.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aprsfi/id922155038/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 70.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#27** | — |
| Size | 28 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GainIO](https://appshunter.io/developer/922155037) | [micro systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/1023315804) |

## What reviewers say

### aprs.fi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aprsfi/id922155038)

**Currently charting:** #27 Top Paid · Navigation (US App Store)

Access real-time APRS position data, weather reports, and telemetry graphs globally. Offers route guidance, station tracking, and map filtering. Some advanced features require an in-app subscription.

**Highlights:** Real-time APRS position data, Route guidance and driving directions, Search callsigns and addresses, Track multiple stations, Filter map information, View weather and telemetry graphs, Beacon your position

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extra features, monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Extra features, yearly | $6.49 | per year |
| Extra features, fair trade | $13.49 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Solid product
- 👍 Works great with external hardware
- 💡 Useful for public service events
- 🚀 Reliable way to participate in APRS network
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Beaconing issues (inconsistent timing, lack of smart beaconing)
- 🔒 Messaging requires subscription
- 💰 Expensive for limited functionality
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Subscription required for full features

**Reported bugs**

- Beacon not clickable
- Freezing on settings screen
- Incompatible with older iOS versions
- Inconsistent behavior with VOX on radios

**Requested features**

- Offline maps support
- Ability to change nickname without creating new account
- Smart beaconing mode
- Bulk message deletion
- CarPlay support


### qth locator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qth-locator/id6502876879)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is aprs.fi free?

aprs.fi costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is qth locator free?

qth locator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do aprs.fi or qth locator have ads?

Neither aprs.fi nor qth locator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, aprs.fi or qth locator?

aprs.fi ships an update fortnightly, and qth locator every 5 days. Most recently, aprs.fi was updated on November 1, 2026 and qth locator on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*