2Dig Plain comparisons of crane signalling and jobsite communication tools

Push-to-talk apps for crane crews for general contractors in 2026

Push-to-talk options for general contractors managing crane crews, including OperatorLink, Zello, Voxer, GroupTalk, and others.

By 2Dig ยท

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

General contractors can compare tools by how they pass directions, voice, alerts, joining steps, device needs, and cost. OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew in a phone browser and is currently free to use. [1][1]

OptionCostDevice or setup
OperatorLinkFree to use, no paid plan is 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. [3]
VoxerFree for individuals; 14-day free trial. [4][5]Not published
GroupTalkFree 14-day trial. [6]Private cloud and on-premises deployment options. [6]
Peak PTT$229, with a $19.95 activation fee and $24.95 per month for unlimited push-to-talk. [7]LTE radio hardware transmitting over AT&T's nationwide network. [7]

What general contractors need from push-to-talk apps for crane crews

General contractors coordinate people, equipment, and work areas where clear communication matters. A crane crew needs a way to pass directions, confirm messages, and keep everyone aware of changes during a lift. The tool choice depends on how the crew works, what devices are available, and where communication is needed. Some jobs may need visible direction signals, while others may need voice check-ins or group communication. A contractor should compare how each option handles urgent directions, how people join, what information is needed to start, and what costs apply. A signal person and operator still need clear communication practices that match the job. The right tool depends on the crew, site conditions, and the features each provider states.

OperatorLink for general contractors

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 general contractors

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] Zello offers its product free for first responders. [3]

Voxer for general contractors

Voxer is free for individuals. [4] Voxer offers a 14-day free trial. [5] Beyond those points the facts say little more, so a contractor should ask Voxer what devices it supports and what its paid options cost.

GroupTalk for general contractors

GroupTalk offers a free 14-day trial. [6] GroupTalk offers private cloud and on-premises deployment options. [6] Supervisors and managers can reach any team or individual instantly. [8]

Peak PTT for general contractors

The PTT-84G is priced at $229, with a $19.95 activation fee and $24.95 per month for unlimited push-to-talk, with no contracts. [7] Same-business-day shipping is offered on most orders. [7] The optional dispatch seat add-on costs $12 per month per seat. [9]

Matching the tool to the job

A contractor comparing visible crane directions can look at tools that state how signals stay visible. OperatorLink keeps STOP, HOLD and SLOW on for everyone in the jobsite until the last person leaves. [1] A contractor needing phone-based joining can use OperatorLink, where the person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code and the crew joins from it. [1] Zello provides a Work option with a published per-user monthly price. [2] GroupTalk provides separate PTT groups for different roles, functions, areas, or tasks. [8] Peak PTT provides a radio option with a published radio price and service price. [7] A contractor should compare each option against the way the crew communicates on the job.

Questions to ask before you choose

Does the tool keep urgent directions visible until the crew registers them? Can crew members join from a shared link, or does the provider require another setup step? What devices can each person use? How does the tool handle a stopped connection or a missed message? Does the provider publish the price structure, and what does that price cover? Can different groups communicate separately when several teams are working? What information should a contractor collect before choosing a tool for a crane crew?

Frequently asked questions

Do push-to-talk apps work for crane signals on a phone?

Some tools pass voice, and some pass direction signals. OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew in a phone browser, and HOLD and SLOW stay on until the last person leaves. [1][1] A contractor should check how each provider handles directions before choosing a tool.

Is there a free push-to-talk app for crane crews?

OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1] Voxer is free for individuals. [4] Zello offers its product free for first responders. [3] GroupTalk offers a free 14-day trial. [6]

What does push-to-talk cost for crane crews?

Zello Work costs $8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with an annual subscription. [2] Peak PTT lists $24.95 per month for unlimited push-to-talk, with a $229 radio price and a $19.95 activation fee. [9][7] OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1]

Can a crane crew hold a STOP that everyone sees?

OperatorLink shows STOP to the jobsite crew in a phone browser. [1] STOP releases every held direction on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [1] Other tools should be checked for how they display urgent directions.

What device is needed for push-to-talk tools?

OperatorLink runs in a phone browser with no app install and can be added to a phone's home screen. [1][1] Zello runs on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. [3] A contractor should check what devices the crew already carries.

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. Zello, zello.com, read 2026-10-08
  4. Voxer, voxer.com/plans-and-pricing, read 2026-10-08
  5. Voxer, voxer.com/business, read 2026-10-08
  6. GroupTalk, grouptalk.com, read 2026-10-08
  7. Peak PTT, peakptt.com/pages/construction-companies, read 2026-10-08
  8. GroupTalk, grouptalk.com/why-grouptalk/we-across-industries/construction, read 2026-10-08
  9. Peak PTT, peakptt.com/pages/peak-push-to-talk-pricing-matrix, read 2026-10-08

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