Best Shortwave Apps

250+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.2 avg rating

14 free apps

Updated September 2026

Every iPhone needs a few good shortwave apps. We benchmark 250+ of them on App Store rating, freshness, and pricing, then surface the standouts so you don't have to scroll the App Store yourself.

Compare top Shortwave Apps (September 2026)

#	App	Price	Rating	Ads	In-App Purchases	Updated
1	ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series	Free	4.7★ (31K)	Yes	Yes	Sep 2026
2	Shortwave - AI Email	Free	4.8★ (710)	No	No	Sep 2026
3	Echo: Global SDR Receiver	Free	5.0★ (30)	No	No	Sep 2026
4	AM_SW Radio	Free	5.0★ (1)	No	No	Jul 2026
5	SwR - Global Radio	Free	5.0★ (1)	No	Yes	Sep 2026
6	Radio Garden Live	Free	4.6★ (2.3K)	Yes	Yes	Sep 2026
7	Shortwave Broadcast Schedules	$3.99	4.5★ (238)	No	No	Sep 2026
8	Shortwave Guide	$8.99 was $12.99	—	No	No	Aug 2026

Top Picks for Shortwave

ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series by HALOFUN PTE. LTD.

Shorts & Drama Series

Editor's Choice

🎬 Entertainment

4.7😐(31K ratings)

FreeAdsIn-App Purchases

#66in Entertainment

ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series screenshot 1

ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series screenshot 2

ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series screenshot 3

ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series screenshot 4

ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series screenshot 5

ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series screenshot 6

Discover a vast collection of short-form drama series with compelling storylines and exceptional performances. Enjoy a seamless streaming experience with content optimized for on-the-go entertainment. Explore diverse genres and find your next favorite story.

What We Love

👍 Great stories and storylines
🚀 Decent episode lengths
💡 Variety of content
🔒 Reasonable pricing for episodes

Room to Improve

🐛 Inconsistent reward system for watching ads
💰 Expensive to watch full stories
🔍 Lack of search functionality
🔍 Difficulty finding specific content

Shortwave - AI Email by Shortwave Communications, Inc.

AI-native email for business

Strong Contender

📊 Productivity

4.8😊(710 ratings)

Free

This AI-powered email client streamlines your inbox with intelligent organization, writing assistance, and team collaboration tools. It helps you manage emails, schedule meetings, and turn messages into actionable tasks, all while learning your unique style.

What We Love

🚀 Excellent email management
👍 Clean and intuitive interface
🚀 Efficient email processing
💡 Innovative AI features
👍 Helpful email bundling and scheduling
🚀 Improved productivity and organization

Room to Improve

🐛 Inconsistent mobile app experience
🔒 Privacy concerns around data collection
🔍 Limited search and filtering options
💻 Lack of support for non-Gmail accounts
🔧 Missing key features like delete and landscape mode

Echo: Global SDR Receiver by Mark Garrison Jr.

SDR Tuner, Shortwave & Scanner

Worth Considering

🔧 Utilities

5.0(30 ratings)

Free

Tune into thousands of remote radio servers worldwide from your iPhone or iPad. Explore shortwave broadcasts, aviation communications, and more with a global interactive map and advanced tuning features. Enjoy uninterrupted background audio and a privacy-first experience.

More Shortwave apps to explore

AM_SW Radio

AM-SW-Ham from worldwide rcvrs

Free

Access and stream live radio broadcasts from hundreds of volunteer-run receivers worldwide. Experience shortwave radio reception from 100kHz to 30MHz using AM or SSB modes, as if you were physically at the receiver's location.

Global receiver accessLive audio streamingAM and SSB modes

Worldwide online SDR receivers

Free

Access a global network of shortwave radio receivers from your phone. Tune into live broadcasts, amateur radio frequencies, and utility stations worldwide with real-time spectrum analysis and intuitive controls.

Global SDR network accessReal-time spectrum analyzerIntuitive drag-to-tune interface

Listen to worldwide live radio

Free

Explore and listen to thousands of live radio stations from around the world. Simply rotate a globe to discover stations broadcasting from different cities and towns. Enjoy a seamless international radio experience with continuous playback, even when your device is asleep.

Global radio station discoveryInteractive globe interfaceLive streaming audio

🎵 Music

(2.3K)

free with in-app purchases

Shortwave Broadcast Schedules

by Black Cat Systems

$3.99

Access up-to-date schedules for international longwave, mediumwave, and shortwave broadcast stations. Easily search for stations by various criteria and log your listening experiences. Never miss your favorite broadcasts with reminders and a personal logbook.

Broadcast schedules for 11,000+ stationsSearch by name, frequency, time, language, area, countryView stations currently on air

This application displays a real-time schedule of shortwave radio broadcasts worldwide, sourced from the EiBi database. Users can rescan for updates, view specific frequencies, and update the entire broadcast schedule database.

Worldwide shortwave broadcast scheduleReal-time station listingsFrequency viewing

Shortwave & Amateur Radio Log

Free

Log amateur radio QSOs and broadcast transmissions on your mobile device. Supports QRZ lookups and various broadcast schedule queries for station identification. Features GPS integration and local log browsing, with the ability to upload to a main logging program.

Log amateur radio QSOsLog broadcast transmissionsQRZ lookups

🌟 Lifestyle

(0)

free

UVB-76: Shortwave Buzzer

Doomsday numbers station

Free

🎬 Entertainment

(0)

SWAtlas - Shortwave Explorer

Radio Recorder, STT & Decoders

$7.99

Explore worldwide shortwave radio broadcast information with fast searches and a clean interface. Access broadcast details, station information, and listening logs, even offline. Ideal for both beginners and experienced listeners.

Search broadcast frequencies and station namesView station, country, and broadcast detailsFilter by band, country, language, and more

World Radio via KiwiSDR

Virtual Ham Radio Transceiver

Free

This virtual ham radio transceiver simulates HF bands from 10-160m, including 6m, 2m, and 70cm. It features USB, LSB, and CW modes, power settings, and built-in audio filters. Additional instruments can be unlocked via in-app purchases.

Virtual HF bands (10-160m)6m, 2m, and 70cm bandsUSB, LSB, and CW modes

🌐 Social Networking

(7)

free with in-app purchases

HF Pilot (Ham Radio/Shortwave)

HF/Shortwave Radio Propagation

by Cornfield Creative, LLC

Free

Connect with people nearby through public messages within a 70-foot radius. This social networking app utilizes location services and Bluetooth to facilitate local communication.

Public messaging70-foot communication radiusLocation-based

🌐 Social Networking

(1)

free

SWListener - radio scanner

Short wave frequency finder

$0.99

Discover shortwave radio broadcasts with this app. View current transmissions, detailed information like language and target, and explore station schedules. Find broadcasts by frequency or station name.

Find broadcast schedulesView current transmissionsGet transmission details

Shortwave & Numbers Stations

Experience a global online radio station broadcasting live from London and New York. Discover diverse music genres and cultural content curated by artists, musicians, and cultural figures. Tune into over 250 shows monthly, featuring both emerging talent and established legends.

Live broadcasts from London and New YorkDiverse music genres and cultural showsCommunity-driven platform

🎵 Music

(0)

free

FAQ about Shortwave

What are the best shortwave apps for iPhone?

ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series tops our shortwave apps ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 31K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.

Are there free shortwave apps for iPhone?

Yes — 14 of the top shortwave apps we rank are free to download, including ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series and Shortwave - AI Email.

Does ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series have ads or in-app purchases?

ShortsWave: Watch Drama Series shows ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.

How many shortwave apps are on the App Store?

We track 250+ shortwave apps on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.

What kind of content does ShortsWave offer?

ShortsWave offers a vast collection of short-form drama series across various genres. The content is meticulously crafted with compelling storylines and features exceptionally talented actors to enhance the viewing experience.

What are the subscription options for ShortsWave?

ShortsWave offers weekly and yearly subscription services. The weekly subscription costs $19.99 and unlocks all paid episodes for a week, while the yearly subscription is $199.99 and provides access for one year. You can cancel your subscription at any time.

Best Shortwave Apps

Compare top Shortwave Apps (September 2026)

Top Picks for Shortwave

What We LoveHighlights summarized from real App Store user reviews

Room to ImproveCommon complaints summarized from real App Store user reviews

What We LoveHighlights summarized from real App Store user reviews

Room to ImproveCommon complaints summarized from real App Store user reviews

More Shortwave apps to explore

FAQ about Shortwave

Related searches

What We Love

Room to Improve

What We Love

Room to Improve