SDR Software Comparison: SDR#, SDR++, GQRX, SDRangel, DSD+
The hardware is only half the SDR picture. SDR# has ruled Windows for a decade, SDR++ is the cross-platform newcomer eating its lunch, GQRX and SDRangel are the Linux power tools, and DSD+ handles what none of them decode natively. Here's which one you should use for each job.
Quick Recommendations by Use Case
General scanning / monitoring
SDR# (Windows) or SDR++ (cross-platform). Pair with a V4.
P25 / DMR trunking
SDRTrunk is the free winner. DSD+ Fastlane works too. See our SDRTrunk setup guide.
HF / shortwave
SDR# with the CSVUserlistBrowser plugin, or SDR++. Combine with HF hardware.
Linux power users
GQRX for simple monitoring, SDRangel for advanced analysis and encoding.
ADS-B aircraft
dump1090 (many forks). Run it alongside any other SDR tool on a second dongle.
Digital voice decoding
DSD+ (free or Fastlane) piped from SDR# or SDR++. SDRTrunk if it's trunked.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SDR# | SDR++ | GQRX | SDRangel | DSD+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Windows | Win/Linux/Mac | Linux/Mac | Win/Linux/Mac | Windows |
| License | Freeware | Open source (GPL) | Open source (GPL) | Open source (GPL) | Free / Paid Fastlane |
| Plugin ecosystem | Extensive | Growing | Limited | Built-in modules | N/A (decoder only) |
| P25 Phase I | Via DSD+ | Via DSD+ | Via DSD+ | Native | Native |
| P25 Phase II | Via DSD+ | Via DSD+ | Via DSD+ | Partial | Native (Fastlane best) |
| Trunking | No | No | No | Limited | With helpers |
| Spectrum analysis | Good | Excellent | Basic | Excellent | None |
| CPU efficiency | Good | Excellent | Good | Heavy | Light |
| Learning curve | Low | Low | Low | High | Medium |
SDR# (SDRSharp)
SDR# is the grandparent of consumer SDR programs on Windows. It has the deepest plugin catalog — frequency scanners, band planners, digital decoders, auto-recorders, ADS-B decoders — and new plugins still appear. The UI is showing its age, but the fundamentals (waterfall, demodulators, noise reduction) are rock-solid.
Use it for: Windows-based general monitoring, HF listening with plugins, pairing with DSD+ for digital voice.
Downsides: Windows-only. Official installer downloads are distributed in an unusual way (airspy.com) that trips up some users. No trunking.
SDR++
SDR++ is the modern answer to "why is all the good SDR software Windows-only?" It runs on Windows, Linux, macOS (including Apple Silicon), and even Android with the same clean UI. Performance is notably better than SDR# on low-power devices. Plugin support is growing but hasn't caught up to SDR#.
Use it for: Mac users, Linux users who want a polished GUI, anyone running SDR on a Raspberry Pi or laptop with limited CPU.
Downsides: Fewer plugins than SDR#. Some niche features (like specific HF databases) aren't there yet.
GQRX
GQRX is the straightforward Linux/macOS SDR program. It's built on GNU Radio under the hood, with a simple interface that covers the basics: waterfall, demodulators, recording, bookmarks, and remote control via its TCP server. It's not flashy, but it's reliable and scripted automation is easy because of its control interface.
Use it for: Linux systems, scripting and automation, a lightweight SDR GUI.
Downsides: No digital voice decoding on its own. Limited plugin ecosystem. Spectrum analysis features are basic.
SDRangel
SDRangel is the Swiss Army knife. It supports dozens of demodulators and decoders out of the box — including ADS-B, APRS, FT8, AIS, digital voice (DMR, dPMR, D-Star, NXDN, YSF), and even TX on SDRs that support it. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS. The interface is dense and the learning curve is the steepest on this list.
Use it for: Experimenters who want everything in one program, users interested in lesser-known modes like FT8 or radiosonde decoding.
Downsides: Overwhelming for new users. Heavier CPU load than SDR++. Not the fastest way to get started.
DSD+ (Digital Speech Decoder Plus)
DSD+ is a decoder, not an SDR front-end. You feed it audio from SDR# or SDR++ using a virtual audio cable (like VB-Cable), and it decodes P25, DMR, NXDN, and dPMR calls. The free build decodes Phase I and basic Phase II. DSD+ Fastlane (about $30–$50 one-time) adds better Phase II, voice quality improvements, and Unitrunker 2 integration.
Use it for: Decoding digital voice when your main SDR program doesn't do it natively. Works well alongside SDR# for Phase I conventional.
Downsides: Windows-only. Setup with virtual audio cables is fiddly. For trunked systems, SDRTrunk is simpler.
Recommended Stacks
Best Experimenter Stack
Any OS: SDRangel + GQRX for dual monitoring
RTL-SDR V4 primary, add an SDRplay or Airspy as budget allows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free SDR software?
For Windows, SDR# remains the most mature and plugin-rich choice. For cross-platform use, SDR++ is the modern default — it runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS with the same interface. For trunked radio, SDRTrunk is unmatched in the free tier. Most users end up with two or three installed.
Do I need paid software for SDR?
Not for most use cases. DSD+ Fastlane is the main paid option most scanner-focused users consider — it adds better P25/DMR/NXDN decoding than the free version. Every major general-purpose SDR program (SDR#, SDR++, GQRX, SDRangel, SDRTrunk) is free.
What software works on Mac?
SDR++ is the best cross-platform option and runs well on Apple Silicon. GQRX has native macOS builds. CubicSDR is macOS-friendly. SDRTrunk works on macOS via Java. SDR# is Windows-only — you'd need Parallels or Boot Camp.
Can I run SDR software on Raspberry Pi?
Yes. SDR++ and GQRX both run on a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5. SDRTrunk runs on Pi via Java and handles simpler trunked systems well, though busy P25 Phase II systems may exceed Pi CPU. OP25 is a popular Linux trunking alternative for Pi.
What is DSD+ and do I need it?
DSD+ (Digital Speech Decoder Plus) decodes digital voice modes including P25 Phase I, P25 Phase II, DMR, and NXDN. The free version is capable. DSD+ Fastlane is a paid tier with better decoding quality. You route audio from SDR# or SDR++ into DSD+ using virtual audio cables. For P25 trunking, SDRTrunk handles decoding itself and doesn't require DSD+.
Which SDR software decodes ADS-B aircraft?
dump1090 (various forks) is the standard for ADS-B. It's a command-line decoder that works with RTL-SDR V4. For a GUI, Virtual Radar Server or SDRangel's ADS-B plugin work well. You typically pair one dedicated RTL-SDR V4 with a 1090 MHz antenna for ADS-B.
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