SDR# (SDRSharp)
Free Windows SDR receiver from Airspy with a large third-party plugin ecosystem.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Windows
Is SDR# (SDRSharp) free?
Yes, free to use
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About SDR# (SDRSharp)
SDR#, also written SDRSharp, is one of the most widely used receiver programs for software-defined radio on Windows. It is made by Airspy and tuned for the company's own receivers, but the download package also includes drivers for RTL-SDR dongles, HackRF, AOR IQ receivers and RFSPACE networked SDRs. You get a fast spectrum and waterfall, the usual analog demodulators and noise-reduction tools, and SpyServer for sharing a receiver over a network. Much of its appeal comes from plugins: a long list of community add-ons cover scanners, digital decoders, recorders and frequency managers, and Airspy publishes an SDK for writing your own. The software is free to download but closed source, and it runs on Windows only (it needs .NET). Production and beta builds are offered side by side, and a community-written SDR# Big Book serves as the manual.
Best for: Windows users with an Airspy or RTL-SDR who want a familiar receiver and lots of plugins.
SDR# (SDRSharp) pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from SDR# (SDRSharp)'s own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Nov 8, 2026 | airspy.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- Free download with drivers for Airspy, RTL-SDR and HackRF included
- Large library of community plugins
- SpyServer for remote access to a receiver
- Plugin SDK for developers
Why people leave
- Windows only
- Closed source
- Best features are tuned for Airspy hardware
SDR# (SDRSharp) vs SDR++, Gqrx and HDSDR
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SDR# (SDRSharp): common questions
What is SDR# (SDRSharp)?
SDR# (SDRSharp): Free Windows SDR receiver from Airspy with a large third-party plugin ecosystem. Best for windows users with an Airspy or RTL-SDR who want a familiar receiver and lots of plugins. Available for Windows.
Is SDR# (SDRSharp) free?
Yes, SDR# (SDRSharp) is free to use.
How much does SDR# (SDRSharp) cost?
SDR# (SDRSharp) is free to use. Price: Free. Checked on SDR# (SDRSharp)'s own site, November 2026.
Is SDR# (SDRSharp) open source?
No, SDR# (SDRSharp) is not open source. Open-source alternatives include SDR++ and Gqrx.
What platforms does SDR# (SDRSharp) run on?
SDR# (SDRSharp) is available for Windows.
What are the best alternatives to SDR# (SDRSharp)?
The highest-ranked SDR# (SDRSharp) alternatives right now are SDR++, Gqrx and HDSDR. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
SDR# (SDRSharp) vs SDR++: what's the difference?
SDR# (SDRSharp) is free to use; SDR++ is free and open source. SDR++ is open source and SDR# (SDRSharp) is not. Only SDR++ runs on macOS and Linux.