2Dig Plain comparisons of crane signalling and jobsite communication tools

Peak PTT alternatives for crane crews in 2026

Compare Peak PTT alternatives for crane crews, from phone tools to radio and headset options, using the facts each publisher states.

By 2Dig ยท

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

Peak PTT sells a dedicated radio with a $19.95 activation fee and $24.95 per month for unlimited push-to-talk. [1] The alternatives on this page cover phone apps, push-to-talk options and wireless headset systems, and the right fit depends on the phones and headsets already on site.

OptionTypeOwn feeCard payment fee
Peak PTTRadio hardware with monthly servicePTT-84G radio $229, $19.95 activation, $24.95 per month for unlimited push-to-talk [1]not published
ZelloPhone and computer appZello Work $8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with an annual subscription [2]not published
GroupTalknot publishedFree 14-day trial [3]not published
OperatorLinkPhone browser signalsCurrently free, no paid plan built yet [4]not published
EartecWireless headset systemnot publishednot published
SetcomWireless headset systemnot publishednot published

Why crane crews look past Peak PTT

The PTT-84G radio is priced at $229, with a $19.95 activation fee and $24.95 per month for unlimited push-to-talk, with no contracts. [1] Core radio service is priced at $24.95 per month per radio. [5] Voice travels over AT&T's nationwide LTE network. [1] Both radios include access to a GPS tracking portal with 90-day location history, geofencing, and real-time crew visibility. [1] A dispatch seat, which runs dispatch from any PC instead of a base station, costs $12 per month per seat. [5] Crews that already carry phones weigh the monthly radio rate against phone apps, and crews that need both hands free look at headset systems. A crew should check on its own whether the carrier network reaches its site, because the facts here do not say which areas it covers.

Zello

Zello runs on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. [6] 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] A crew with a mix of phones and computers can compare the per-user price against the radio rate, and should count how many people would carry the app before deciding.

GroupTalk

GroupTalk offers a free 14-day trial. [3] Its page also offers a sales contact. [7] No price is listed for GroupTalk here, so a crew should request one from the company before comparing it with the other options.

OperatorLink

OperatorLink is made by the team that publishes this site. It shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew, and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [4] For the crew, STOP means stop everything, HOLD means pause and wait, and SLOW means proceed at a reduced pace, so a signal person can tell the operator to halt, hold in place, or ease off with three plain commands. STOP releases every held direction on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [4] HOLD and SLOW stay on for everyone in the jobsite and are cleared when the last person leaves. [4] Holding a move button keeps sending that move to the other phones; if it stops arriving for 2 seconds, they drop it. [4] The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [4] A jobsite link stops working 12 hours after the first person joins it. [4] On Android browsers signals such as STOP make the phone buzz; iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [4] OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [4] It runs in a phone browser with no app install. [4]

Eartec

Both the EPak and PRO16 systems allow users to connect and communicate simultaneously on the same setup. [8] Orders ship within 1-3 business days. [8] Eartec says a set can be bought, tried, and returned for a full refund if the buyer does not like it, provided the items come back undamaged within 30 calendar days of receipt. [8] [8] If Expedited shipping is chosen and the set is returned, the shipping fee is deducted from the refund. [8] [8] [8] No price is listed for Eartec on this page, so a crew should ask the company for pricing before comparing it.

Setcom

Setcom's LiberatorMAX system provides full-duplex communication without push-to-talk. [9] The fixed mobile radio system uses one base station to connect up to seven wireless headsets. [9] No price is listed for Setcom here, so a crew should request one before comparing it with the other options.

How to pick the right Peak PTT alternative

A crew starts with the phones and headsets already on site. A crew that already carries phones and wants signals such as STOP, HOLD and SLOW shown on the screen can look at OperatorLink, which shows those signals to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [4] OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [4] A crew that wants to check a tool that runs on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac can look at Zello. [6] A crew that wants to try GroupTalk can look at its free 14-day trial. [3] A crew that wants a dedicated radio on a cellular network can keep Peak PTT in the comparison, where the PTT-84G radio costs $229 and the service is $24.95 per month for unlimited push-to-talk. [1] A crew that wants hands-free talking can look at Eartec or at Setcom, where one base station connects up to seven wireless headsets. [9] Before choosing, a crew should check that its own phones and network support the option, and that the price it is quoted covers everyone who needs it.

Frequently asked questions

Is Peak PTT a subscription or a one-time purchase?

Peak PTT sells radio hardware and a monthly service together. The PTT-84G radio is priced at $229, with a $19.95 activation fee and $24.95 per month for unlimited push-to-talk, with no contracts. [1] The optional dispatch seat add-on costs $12 per month per seat. [5] A crew should count how many radios and seats it needs before estimating a yearly total.

Does Zello Work cost more for each person?

Zello Work is priced per user, at $8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with an annual subscription. [2] Zello runs on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. [6] Zello also offers a free 14-day trial with no credit card required. [2] A crew should count the people who need the app before comparing that total with the radio rate.

Does OperatorLink need an app install?

No. It runs in a phone browser with no app install. [4] Button presses, chat and voice pass between phones in a browser. [4] The app can be added to a phone's home screen as a standalone app. [4] OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [4] A crew should check what each person's phone browser supports before a shift.

What does the STOP signal do on OperatorLink?

STOP releases every held direction on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [4] Holding a move button keeps sending that move to the other phones, and if it stops arriving for 2 seconds, they drop it. [4] On Android browsers, STOP makes the phone buzz, while iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [4] A crew that depends on the buzz should check it on its own phones before relying on it.

Can an Eartec headset set be returned for a refund?

Eartec says a customer can buy a set, try it, and return it for a full refund if the customer does not like it. If Expedited shipping is chosen and the set is returned, the shipping fee is deducted from the refund. [8] [8] Items must be returned undamaged within 30 calendar days from the date received. [8] If Expedited shipping is chosen and the set is returned, the shipping fee is deducted from the refund. [8] Orders ship within 1-3 business days. [8]

OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [4]

Try OperatorLink

Sources

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

Related comparisons