Best Shortwave Radio Scanner Apps

249+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.3 avg rating

20 free apps

Updated October 2026

From beginner-friendly picks to power-user tools, our shortwave radio scanner apps list covers 249+ iPhone apps updated through October 2026. Compare ratings, prices, and screenshots in one place.

Compare top Shortwave Radio Scanner Apps (October 2026)

#	App	Price	Rating	Ads	In-App Purchases	Updated
1	SwR - Global Radio	Free	4.7★ (6)	No	Yes	Oct 2026
2	Ham Listening	Free	—	No	No	Sep 2026
3	Echo: Global SDR Receiver	Free	4.9★ (36)	No	Yes	Oct 2026
4	Police Scanner +	Free	4.5★ (102K)	Yes	Yes	Nov 2026
5	HamSphere 5.0	Free	3.5★ (8)	No	Yes	Oct 2026
6	Shortwave SDR Radio: GlobalSDR	Free	5.0★ (1)	No	Yes	Oct 2026
7	Police Walkie Radio Scanner	Free	3.5★ (8)	Yes	Yes	Oct 2026
8	CATWEB	Free	—	No	No	Jul 2026

Top Picks for Shortwave Radio Scanner Apps

#1

SwR - Global Radio by Kruen s.r.o.

Worldwide online SDR receivers

Editor's Choice

4.7(6 ratings)

FreeIn-App Purchases

SwR - Global Radio screenshot 1

SwR - Global Radio screenshot 2

SwR - Global Radio screenshot 3

SwR - Global Radio screenshot 4

SwR - Global Radio screenshot 5

SwR - Global Radio screenshot 6

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.

#2

Ham Listening by Yousif AL Balushi

World Radio via KiwiSDR

Strong Contender

0.0(0 ratings)

Free

Ham Listening screenshot 1

Ham Listening screenshot 2

Ham Listening screenshot 3

Ham Listening screenshot 4

Ham Listening screenshot 5

#3

Echo: Global SDR Receiver by Mark Garrison Jr.

SDR Tuner, Shortwave & Scanner

Worth Considering

4.9(36 ratings)

FreeIn-App Purchases

Echo: Global SDR Receiver screenshot 1

Echo: Global SDR Receiver screenshot 2

Echo: Global SDR Receiver screenshot 3

Echo: Global SDR Receiver screenshot 4

Echo: Global SDR Receiver screenshot 5

Echo: Global SDR Receiver screenshot 6

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 Radio Scanner Apps apps to explore

Police Scanner +

Police Scanner +

Police Scanner +

Police, EMS, ATC & Fire Radio

Access over 100,000 free radio stations, including police, fire, EMS, and music. Listen live, record for later, set alarms, and customize your background. Connect with other listeners and share what you're enjoying.

Listen to 100,000+ radio stationsRecord stations for playbackSet wake-up alarms

free with in-app purchases

Virtual Ham Radio Transceiver

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

free with in-app purchases

Shortwave SDR Radio: GlobalSDR

Shortwave SDR Radio: GlobalSDR

Shortwave SDR Radio: GlobalSDR

Ham, Scanner & Live SWL Tuner

Police Walkie Radio Scanner

Police Walkie Radio Scanner

Police Walkie Radio Scanner

Radio Scanner Audio Streams

Listen to communication-inspired audio streams and scanner sound playback. Browse and explore various channels with a simple interface designed for entertainment and audio exploration.

Radio-style listening experienceCommunication-inspired audio streamsScanner sound playback

free with in-app purchases

by Colin Constable

Powerful web based SDR

by Zafer Aydogan

🎬 Entertainment

ModernRadioScan

ModernRadioScan

ModernRadioScan

by Hip Science, LLC

Hear the Action Know the Story

Listen to live radio call audio and review recent activity with fast playback and clear call details. Continuously updating transcriptions provide context to follow events without switching between tools.

Live call streamingRapid playback controlsOrganized call lists

🎬 Entertainment

Wave CNTRL: AM FM Radio & Chat

Wave CNTRL: AM FM Radio & Chat

Wave CNTRL: AM FM Radio & Chat

Live world stations & podcasts

Pierce County Scanner

Pierce County Scanner

Pierce County Scanner

Police and Fire Dispatch

Listen live to police and fire dispatch audio from Pierce and King County, Washington. Search transcripts and go back in time to review past transmissions. This app provides access to P25 Phase 2 transmissions captured by volunteer-operated radios.

Live audio streamingSearchable transcriptsHistorical playback

🎬 Entertainment

Ham Logger: Ham Radio Logbook

Ham Logger: Ham Radio Logbook

Ham Logger: Ham Radio Logbook

Simple and clean ham log book

📊 Productivity

Offline Repeater Pro

Offline Repeater Pro

Offline Repeater Pro

Load repeaters into your radio

Easily find and program amateur radio and GMRS repeaters into your compatible radio via Bluetooth. Offers offline maps and repeater data, with optional in-app purchases for advanced programming features. Ideal for radio operators on the go.

Find repeaters by GPS or locationBrowse offline map and databaseProgram radios via Bluetooth

free with in-app purchases

5-0 Radio Pro Police Scanner

5-0 Radio Pro Police Scanner

5-0 Radio Pro Police Scanner

Fire, EMS, ATC, Train & CB/Ham

Access over 50,000 live audio feeds from police, fire, EMS, air traffic, and more. Stay informed about local and global events with real-time updates, recordings, and live chat features.

Live audio feedsRecord and share audioLive captions

free with in-app purchases

HF Planner - HAM Radio guide

HF Planner - HAM Radio guide

HF Planner - HAM Radio guide

HF propagation band planner

Scanner Assistant

Scanner Assistant

Scanner Assistant

by FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH

🛠️ Developer Tools

RetroSound Radio Control

RetroSound Radio Control

RetroSound Radio Control

by Retro Manufacturing,LLC

Control your car's radio directly from your smartphone via Bluetooth. Adjust audio settings, switch sources, customize display colors, and manage advanced configurations with an intuitive interface.

Bluetooth radio connectionSource switching (AM/FM, USB, AUX, SiriusXM)Volume and DSP preset control

FAQ about Shortwave Radio Scanner Apps

What are the best shortwave radio scanner apps for iPhone?

SwR - Global Radio tops our shortwave radio scanner apps ranking as of October 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 6 App Store ratings, and it's free to download.

Are there free shortwave radio scanner apps for iPhone?

Yes — 20 of the top shortwave radio scanner apps we rank are free to download, including SwR - Global Radio and Ham Listening.

Does SwR - Global Radio have ads or in-app purchases?

SwR - Global Radio has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of October 2026.

How many shortwave radio scanner apps are on the App Store?

We track 249+ shortwave radio scanner apps on the iOS App Store as of October 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.