Best Police Scanner Apps for iPhone and Android: What’s Free, What’s Paid and What the Codes Mean

Police scanner apps let you hear what is happening around you in real time: a fire down the street, a traffic crash on the highway, a storm response. They are free to download, but most of them come with ads, and the paid versions can cost anything from a few dollars once to a weekly subscription.

This guide compares the best rated scanner apps for iPhone and Android, explains where the audio actually comes from and why some channels go silent, sums up what the law says in the U.S. and Canada, and shows how to read the 10-codes you will hear on the air.

Where scanner apps get their audio

A scanner app is not a radio. Your phone does not pick up police frequencies by itself. The audio is streamed over the internet.

Many of the biggest apps say in their store description that their feeds come from Broadcastify, the large streaming network for public safety radio. That is the case of Scanner Radio and Police Scanner – Live Radio. Scanner Radio explains that this audio is sent by volunteers, and in many cases by departments and 911 centers, using real scanners. This has two practical consequences. First, an app can only play the feeds that someone is streaming, so a small town may have nothing. Second, two apps that use the same network will often show many of the same channels, and the real differences are in the design, the ads and the extra features.

The best scanner apps compared

These apps have a rating of around 4.5 or higher and were updated in 2026. Ratings and review counts are from the U.S. Google Play Store and App Store on October 8, 2026.

Scanner Radio (Android and iPhone)

Scanner Radio, by GordonEdwards.net, has been on Google Play since 2010 and has a 4.7 rating from more than 500,000 reviews there. On iPhone it is listed as Police Scanner Radio and Fire. It streams over 8,000 scanners, including police, fire, weather radio, ham radio and air traffic control, and can alert you when a scanner passes 2,500 listeners. The free version has ads. Scanner Radio Pro removes them and adds color themes and recording.

Police Scanner – Live Radio (Android)

This app has the highest rating of the group on Google Play, 4.8 from more than 140,000 reviews, and includes a list of codes inside the app. The free version shows ads. On iPhone, a similar app from a different developer, Police Scanner: Fire Radio, lists a Premium subscription that removes ads at $9.99 a month, with weekly and yearly plans as well, so check which plan you pick before you confirm.

Scanner 911 (Android)

Scanner 911, by XYWARE, is a lighter option with a 4.6 rating and more than a million downloads. It has ads, the store page shows no in-app purchases, and it includes a ten-code list.

5-0 Radio Pro and Police Scanner + (iPhone)

On iPhone, two more apps stand out. 5-0 Radio Pro Police Scanner, by Smartest Apps, has a 4.6 rating from nearly 89,000 reviews and features like live captions, rewind and recording; it is free to use without a subscription, with an optional Pro+ upgrade for hi-fi audio. Police Scanner +, by Rego Apps, has a 4.5 rating from more than 100,000 reviews and a paid Pro Edition that removes ads and adds higher quality audio.

Free or paid: what you actually get

For most people, the free version is enough to listen to local channels. Depending on the app, what you pay for can include:

• No ads, which matters if you leave the app running for hours.
• Recording or rewind, to hear again something you missed. Some apps, like 5-0 Radio, include these for free.
• Better audio or exclusive feeds, in some apps.
• Themes and alerts, depending on the app.

Before you subscribe, check the price in your store and whether it is a one-time purchase or a recurring plan. Weekly plans add up fast. You can cancel subscriptions in the subscription settings of Google Play or of your Apple account.

Why some channels are silent or missing

Encryption

More and more police departments are encrypting their radio. Under federal law, a radio communication that is scrambled or encrypted is not considered readily accessible to the general public, so it falls outside the federal exception that allows listening.

A recent example: the Rochester Police Department and the Olmsted County Sheriff in Minnesota moved to encrypted radio on January 27, 2025. Their announcement noted that, without encryption, anyone can listen to law enforcement radio using scanners and apps, and listed reasons such as protecting medical information, victims and minors.

Digital radio systems

Many agencies use P25, a set of digital radio standards for public safety. For app users, this matters less: the person streaming the feed is the one who needs the right equipment. But it helps explain why a channel can disappear for a while when an agency changes systems.

Feeds that go offline

Since the audio depends on volunteers and agencies streaming it, a feed can go down when the person’s equipment or internet fails. If a channel you follow vanishes, look for another feed for the same county.

Is it legal to listen?

United States

Federal law allows listening to police and fire radio that is readily accessible to the general public, which means not encrypted. The restrictions come from state laws, and most of them are about two things: having a police-band radio in a vehicle, or using what you hear to commit a crime.

• New York: Vehicle and Traffic Law 397 does not allow equipping a vehicle with a radio that receives police frequencies without a permit, with an exception for licensed ham radio operators.
• Minnesota: Statute 299C.37 has a similar ban on police-band radios in vehicles, with exceptions such as police, licensed ham operators and people with written permission.
• Florida: Statute 843.16 bans installing or carrying in a vehicle radio equipment set to receive police or fire frequencies, with exceptions for groups such as ham operators and the press.
• California: Penal Code 636.5 makes it a misdemeanor to intercept public safety radio to help commit a crime or to avoid arrest.

These laws were written with radio receivers in mind, and it is not always clear how they apply to an app on a phone. Laws also change, and other states have their own rules. If you plan to listen while driving, check the current law in your state. Never use what you hear to interfere with police work.

Canada

Under section 9(2) of the Radiocommunication Act, no one may intercept a radio communication and make use of it or divulge it, unless the sender allows it. In other words, the law targets using or passing on what you hear, not the simple act of listening. Penalties for individuals can reach a fine of C$25,000, up to one year in prison, or both. Do not record and share scanner audio on social media.

What the 10-codes mean

The APCO created the 10-codes in 1937 to make radio messages short and clear, and later published a standard list. In practice, each agency adapted its own. A federal plain language guide gives a good example: 10-88 can mean present phone number in one agency and officer needs help in another. Since 2006, FEMA guidance requires plain language when several agencies work together, but it does not abolish 10-codes in everyday communications.

These are some common codes, as listed in the Harford County Sheriff manual in Maryland. They match APCO-style lists, but always check your local agency’s list:

• 10-1: unable to copy (poor signal).
• 10-4: acknowledgment, message received.
• 10-6: busy, unless urgent.
• 10-7: out of service.
• 10-8: in service.
• 10-9: repeat.
• 10-20: location.
• 10-22: disregard.
• 10-33: emergency.

Some codes change a lot from one department to the next, like 10-23 and 10-97. When in doubt, look up the list for the agency you are listening to. Many scanner apps include a code list too.

Download the apps

Frequently asked questions

Do police scanner apps work without internet?

No. The audio is streamed online, so you need a data or Wi-Fi connection.

Why can’t I hear my local police department?

The department may encrypt its radio, or no one may be streaming that channel. Try the fire, EMS or county channels for the same area.

Are police scanner apps free?

Most are free to download and use, with ads. Paid upgrades usually remove ads and add features like recording or better audio.

Is it legal to use a police scanner app?

Listening to unencrypted public safety radio is allowed by U.S. federal law, but some states restrict police-band radios in vehicles or listening to help commit a crime. In Canada, the law prohibits using or sharing what you intercept.

Is 10-4 the same everywhere?

10-4 is one of the most consistent codes and usually means message received. Other codes can vary a lot between departments.

App data from the U.S. Google Play Store and App Store, checked on October 8, 2026. Prices and ratings change often. This article is for general information and is not legal advice: check the law in your state or province. This site is independent and is not affiliated with any app developer or agency.