2Dig Plain comparisons of crane signalling and jobsite communication tools

Push-to-talk apps for crane crews for equipment supervisors in 2026

Compare push-to-talk apps for equipment supervisors on crane crews, including OperatorLink and other tools with published features.

By 2Dig ยท

2Dig is published by the makers of OperatorLink, which is compared here alongside other tools.

Equipment supervisors can compare tools that handle voice, messages, and visible directions for crane crews. OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew, and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [1] Zello, Voxer, GroupTalk, and Peak PTT publish different details about pricing and communication features. [2][3][4][5]

OptionCostDevice and join
OperatorLinkFree, no paid plan built yet [1]Phone browser, no app install; crew joins from a shared link or QR code [1][1]
Zello$8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with an annual subscription [2]Runs on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac [6]
VoxerPersonal plan is free [3]Not published
GroupTalkFree 14-day trial [4]Private cloud or on-premises deployment options [4]
Peak PTT$229 with a $19.95 activation fee and $24.95 per month for unlimited PTT [5]Transmits voice over AT&T's nationwide LTE network [5]

What equipment supervisors need from push-to-talk apps for crane crews

Equipment supervisors coordinate people, equipment, and work areas around crane operations. They need communication tools that let crews share directions, status updates, and questions clearly. A supervisor should compare how a tool passes signals, how people join, what devices it uses, and what happens when a connection changes. For crane work, a visible direction can be useful when a crew needs to keep attention on the lift instead of a phone screen. Tools differ in how they handle voice, messages, alerts, and crew groups. The choice depends on the work setup, the devices available to the crew, and the communication needs of the site.

OperatorLink for equipment supervisors

OperatorLink is made by the team that publishes this site. It runs in a phone browser, so no app install is needed. [1] It passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a browser. [1] STOP releases every held direction on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [1] HOLD and SLOW stay on for everyone in the jobsite and are cleared when the last person leaves. [1] Holding a move button keeps sending that move to the other phones; if it stops arriving for 2 seconds, they drop it. [1] One-tap radio-style calls such as Go Ahead, Copy That and All Clear are sent as chat messages. [1] Anyone who joins can take part in a voice call run from the phone browser. [1] The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1] A jobsite link stops working 12 hours after the first person joins it. [1] A jobsite with nobody in it is wiped after 3 idle hours. [1] OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1]

Zello for equipment supervisors

Zello offers its product free for first responders. [6] Zello Work costs $8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with an annual subscription. [2] Zello offers a free 14-day trial with no credit card required. [2] Equipment supervisors can compare these details with the devices and communication process used by the crew.

Voxer for equipment supervisors

Voxer's Personal plan is free. [3] Voxer offers a 14-day free trial for business. [7] Voxer syncs Procore contacts with Voxer to create groups. [8] Equipment supervisors can check what Voxer supports for the crew's communication needs.

GroupTalk for equipment supervisors

GroupTalk offers a free 14-day trial. [4] The page offers a free trial and a sales contact. [9] GroupTalk offers private cloud and on-premises deployment options. [4] Equipment supervisors can compare the available features with the communication needs of the work group.

Peak PTT for equipment supervisors

The PTT-84G is priced at $229, with a $19.95 activation fee and $24.95 per month for unlimited PTT, with no contracts. [5] A single flat monthly rate covers unlimited nationwide push-to-talk on Tier-1 U.S. carrier networks, with 60-second GPS tracking included. [10] PeakPTT supports multiple simultaneous talk groups on one platform. [5] Equipment supervisors can compare radio hardware and phone-based options based on the crew setup.

Matching the tool to the job

A supervisor who needs visible lift directions can compare OperatorLink, which keeps STOP, HOLD and SLOW on for everyone in the jobsite until the last person leaves. [1] A supervisor who needs a way to halt movement can compare OperatorLink's STOP alert, which appears full screen to everyone else. [1] A crew that needs short replies can use OperatorLink one-tap radio-style calls sent as chat messages. [1] Zello publishes pricing for its Work plan, which can be compared with other tools where pricing is available. [2] Peak PTT supports multiple simultaneous talk groups on one platform. [5] GroupTalk offers personal alarms that report incidents immediately to nearby colleagues and central management. [9]

Questions to ask before you choose

Does the tool keep a direction visible after a person presses it? Can each crew member join from the device already used at the site? Does the tool pass voice, messages, or other signals? What happens when a phone stops receiving updates for a short time? Is the price based on users, radios, or another method? What features are included before the crew starts using the tool? Can supervisors organize communication between different work groups?

Frequently asked questions

Can OperatorLink show crane signals on phones?

OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew in a phone browser and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones. [1] STOP releases every held direction on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [1] Equipment supervisors can compare this with how other tools present directions.

Is OperatorLink free for crane crews?

OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1] Zello offers a free 14-day trial with no credit card required. [2] Voxer's Personal plan is free. [3] GroupTalk offers a free 14-day trial. [4]

What does Zello cost for crane crew communication?

Zello Work costs $8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with an annual subscription. [2] Zello also offers a free 14-day trial with no credit card required. [2] Equipment supervisors can compare these details with other published pricing information.

Can GroupTalk alert crane crews?

GroupTalk offers a free 14-day trial. [4] GroupTalk's push-to-talk and personal alarm functionality enables communication across personnel and workgroups. [9] Equipment supervisors can check how these features match the communication needs of the work group.

What device does OperatorLink use for crane crews?

OperatorLink runs in a phone browser with no app install. [1] The app can be added to a phone's home screen as a standalone app. [1] The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1]

OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1]

Try OperatorLink

Sources

  1. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  2. Zello, zello.com/pricing, read 2026-10-08
  3. Voxer, voxer.com/plans-and-pricing, read 2026-10-08
  4. GroupTalk, grouptalk.com, read 2026-10-08
  5. Peak PTT, peakptt.com/pages/construction-companies, read 2026-10-08
  6. Zello, zello.com, read 2026-10-08
  7. Voxer, voxer.com/business, read 2026-10-08
  8. Voxer, voxer.com/construction, read 2026-10-08
  9. GroupTalk, grouptalk.com/why-grouptalk/we-across-industries/construction, read 2026-10-08
  10. Peak PTT, peakptt.com/pages/peak-push-to-talk-pricing-matrix, read 2026-10-08

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