aprs.fi for Android is out!

[Heikki Hannikainen]

aprs.fi for Android is now available on the Google Play Store!

For 10 years, when a new aprs.fi iPhone app version came out, the first
question was "when can we have it on Android". I was pretty sure it would
never happen, but here we are!

Despite being brand new, the Android app is pretty much complete and I
believe it has all the features the iPhone/iPad app has. Plus a few more -
it can support USB and classic Bluetooth TNCs (Kenwood TH-D74/D75 and
friends!), and it can draw KML & GeoJSON overlays on the map! The next
release of the iOS app will also support these overlays.

The app uses some modern functions of the Android platform, and it
requires Android 11 or newer. On some of these older devices you might
need to upgrade Play services to their current versions; Android 11
without updates installed probably does not work.

The app is only available on the Play Store. It's currently not possible
to run it on de-googled devices. I might look at other stores later.

The pricing model is the same as the iOS app - the application itself is
paid (but not expensive, cheaper than a pint of beer in Helsinki, lasts
much longer and is 80% more healthy, and you get the web site on top for
free). A few features additionally require the Extra Features subscription
(not expensive either, 0.58€/month with the Yearly sub). But it is
important to know this; it frequently comes as a surprise to folks who
didn't read the application description.

In-app subscriptions provide a sustainable business model. They ensure
continuous interest in developing and maintaining the application and its
backend service even after the finite number of interested APRS users have
already purchased the app.

I intend to implement subscription sharing between Android and iOS via the
aprs.fi user account, but it's a bit complex and not there yet.

Some of the main features are:

• Search callsigns and addresses, with quick search-as-you-type and search
history features, show APRS data and maps instantly
• Track multiple stations at the same time
• Filter information shown on the map (weather stations, AIS, custom
filters)
• View weather, telemetry and statistic graphs
• Beacon your position on aprs.fi
• Attach to a transceiver with a wireless connection to a Bluetooth, BLE,
WiFi or USB-attached TNC, receive and transmit position beacons without
the Internet
• Runs directly on top of the reliable and fast aprs.fi database
• Dark Mode support for an ergonomic viewing experience in low-light
environments
• High-resolution graphics for high-DPI displays with full APRS symbol set

All old and some new features are available without a subscription fee.
These additional features are currently included in the Extra Features
subscription package:

• APRS text messaging
• High-performance software DSP modem (1200/300 bit/s) with
oscilloscope and waterfall views
• APRS-IS beaconing, with up to 10 callsign profiles
• RX iGate functionality
• Long time ranges in map and graph views

Install here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fi.aprs.android

The user guide is available here (and inside the app):

https://android-guide.aprs.fi/

Have fun! I hope it works :)

- Hessu

[Ray Rischpater]

This is fantastic news, and an instabuy for me. I've been running the iOS version forever as a pro subscription and have been quite happy. I've missed having on my Fold. AprsDroid works, but even after all of these years I fumble with the UI. 

I'll pass the word to our club and ARES members today. 

Great work!

Ray Rischpater, KF6GPE  | @kf6gpe

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[Heikki Hannikainen]

On Mon, 25 May 2026, Ray Rischpater wrote:

> This is fantastic news, and an instabuy for me. I've been running the iOS version forever as a pro subscription and have been quite
> happy. I've missed having on my Fold. AprsDroid works, but even after all of these years I fumble with the UI. 
>
> I'll pass the word to our club and ARES members today. 
>
> Great work!

Thank you! I sincerely hope it works and not too many serious bugs
surface. It is a complete rewrite in a new language, so it is quite likely
there are some unpolished sharp corners in there. Quite exciting indeed.

- Hessu

[hbasri....@gmail.com]

Heikki,

I've been waiting for you to do that for the Android. I downloaded it and once I saw it worked with internet on my phone, I immediately bought a 1 year subscription. I'll only use it for internet while I'm driving., but it's worth it.

Good user guide info and not a problem to set it up. I appreciate the upload to the APRS-IS. I run a wide area digipeater/Igate here in Ogden, IA  which is on 24x7, using Direwolf for Windows and YAAC.

I'll report any problems, of course, but so far (2 hours) I am just getting the familiar with the UI. Appreciate the dark mode!

73, N0AN, Hasan

[hbasri....@gmail.com]

This is a pix of my auto and bike ride from my home qth to the city of Ogden, IA. I was testing the aprs.fi for Android software on my Samsung S-15 phone.

Around town I peaked about 15 mph and against the wind, 6 mph. To and from about 54 mph.

The software performed flawlessly.

I also configured my IGATE to pick off N0AN-6 from the internet and rebroadcast it on 144.390 thru my Wide Area Digipeater, which direwolf did very well, so I was able to monitor every "transmission" of the phone to the internet by looking at my FTM-400DX on 144.390. It alerted me any time NOAN-6 was decoded.

The image is on my Google Drive and here is the link.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DEdKc9cgY7hckV_j1_vZwkOC_wprTYdn/view?usp=sharing

73, Hasan, N0AN

[Heikki Hannikainen]

Excellent, thank you for the feedback.

By the way, if it works great for you, please leave positive feedback with
a little review text note on the Play Store. It really helps! A lot of
the time only the negative feelings trigger folks to write feedback, and
the results are biased.

There are a few negative reviews due to people being surprised about the
subscription model, even though the Play Store clearly shows multiple
labels about in-app purchases, and my application description text warns
about it in the very beginning. I have now updated two of the screen shots
to have a very visible warning label about required subscription payment
for those features. I hope that helps to reduce the nasty surprises.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fi.aprs.android

I've uploaded a couple of new builds already to fix a few crashes that
were happening in the field (mostly in the background when the app is not
visible), and to make the map time range control realise a new
subscription status more consistently.

- Hessu, OH7LZB

On Thu, 28 May 2026, hbasri....@gmail.com wrote:

> This is a pix of my auto and bike ride from my home qth to the city of Ogden, IA. I was testing the aprs.fi for Android software on my

> Samsung S-15 phone.Around town I peaked about 15 mph and against the wind, 6 mph. To and from about 54 mph.

>
> The software performed flawlessly.
>
> I also configured my IGATE to pick off N0AN-6 from the internet and rebroadcast it on 144.390 thru my Wide Area Digipeater, which
> direwolf did very well, so I was able to monitor every "transmission" of the phone to the internet by looking at my FTM-400DX on
> 144.390. It alerted me any time NOAN-6 was decoded.
>
> The image is on my Google Drive and here is the link.
>
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DEdKc9cgY7hckV_j1_vZwkOC_wprTYdn/view?usp=sharing
>
> 73, Hasan, N0AN
>
> On Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 12:45:14 AM UTC-5 hbasri....@gmail.com wrote:

> Heikki,I've been waiting for you to do that for the Android. I downloaded it and once I saw it worked with internet on my

[Hasan N0AN]

I submitted a review, but may have mis-attributed the app's author. 

The review was 5 star as it should be. 73, N0AN

Hasan

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