# CEL vs WAVE PTX

The clearest difference is update cadence: CEL at every 3 weeks against WAVE PTX's every 4 months. CEL also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15). WAVE PTX's advantage is rating (3.7 vs 3.4) and review sentiment (36% vs 17%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

WAVE PTX holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44 and 38 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of CEL's written reviews are positive against 36% of WAVE PTX's.

CEL ships an update every 3 weeks, WAVE PTX every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CEL | WAVE PTX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cel-fi-wave/id980050278/reviews) | **[3.7 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-ptx/id1348081483/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **44** | 38 |
| Positive reviews | 17.1% of reviews | **35.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 27 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Nextivity, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/928976824) | [Motorola Solutions, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/556842600) |

## What reviewers say

### CEL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cel-fi-wave/id980050278)

Easily set up and manage your smart signal booster. Monitor performance, troubleshoot coverage issues, and update software. Configure advanced settings like network selection and antenna aiming for improved indoor mobile service.

**Highlights:** Booster registration, Performance monitoring and optimization, Coverage issue troubleshooting, Software updates, External antenna aiming, Network operator selection, Advanced settings configuration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works for some users
- 🚀 Boosts signal effectively (when it works)
- 💡 Useful for initial setup
- 🤝 Responsive customer support (mentioned by one user)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues
- 🐛 App crashes often
- 🐛 Slow performance and lag
- 🐛 Outdated user interface
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate

**Reported bugs**

- App does not work
- Multiple units displayed with same name
- Will not connect to units without hours of closing & reopening
- Cannot flash LED on displayed device before connecting
- App is cumbersome to navigate

**Requested features**

- Allow users to see phone's cell signal strength while app is running
- Auto-login feature
- More descriptive device state (booting up, scanning, service detected)
- Faster signal strength meters
- Instruction manual detailing settings/features


### WAVE PTX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-ptx/id1348081483)

This app enables secure, reliable push-to-talk communication across various networks and devices. It extends existing two-way radio services to broadband users, enhancing team productivity with instant messaging and multimedia sharing.

**Highlights:** Secure broadband PTT communication, Carrier-independent network use, Emergency calling, Real-time streaming video, Voice and text messaging, User location tracking

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CEL free?

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

### Is WAVE PTX free?

WAVE PTX is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CEL or WAVE PTX?

WAVE PTX is rated higher. CEL averages 3.4 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while WAVE PTX averages 3.7 from 38 ratings.

### Do CEL or WAVE PTX have ads?

Neither CEL nor WAVE PTX shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CEL or WAVE PTX?

CEL ships an update every 3 weeks, and WAVE PTX every 4 months. Most recently, CEL was updated on October 14, 2026 and WAVE PTX on October 15, 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.*