2Dig Plain comparisons of crane signalling and jobsite communication tools

GroupTalk alternatives for crane crews in 2026

Compare GroupTalk with phone push-to-talk apps, dedicated radios, and headset systems for crane crews, and see how OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW.

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

Crane crews weighing GroupTalk can compare it with phone apps, dedicated radios, and wireless headset systems. This page looks at Zello, Peak PTT, Eartec, CrewPlex, and OperatorLink. For crews that want STOP, HOLD and SLOW signals plus calls and chat shown on the phones they already carry, OperatorLink runs in a phone browser and is free to use. [1] [1]

OptionOwn feeCard fee
Zello$8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with an annual subscription [2]not published
Peak PTT$229 one-time with a $19.95 activation fee and $24.95/mo per radio for unlimited PTT [3]not published
OperatorLinkfree to use, with no paid plan built yet [1]not published

Why crane crews look past GroupTalk

Crane crews compare GroupTalk against phone apps, radios, and headset systems before picking a tool. GroupTalk's push-to-talk and personal alarm functionality enables secure real-time communication across all personnel and workgroups. [4] Separate PTT groups can be set up for different roles, functions, areas, or tasks. [4] Group voice channels allow simultaneous communication across multiple teams. [4] Personal alarms report incidents immediately to nearby colleagues and central management. [4] By integrating live location tracking, alarms, and group communication, construction sites can implement effective HSE procedures. [4] GroupTalk's cloud-based PTT system offers unlimited range and secure communication. [4] It also offers private cloud and on-premises deployment. [5] GroupTalk offers a free 14-day trial. [5] Its page points to a free trial and a Talk to Sales contact. [4] The choice comes down to what a crew already carries, how far they must range, and whether they want phones, a radio, or a headset system.

Zello: a phone push-to-talk app

Zello runs on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, so a crew can use the phones they already carry. [6] Zello Work costs $8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with an annual subscription. [2] A 14-day free trial needs no credit card. [2] Subscriptions can be changed or cancelled any time without penalty. [2] Its page offers Zello free for first responders. [6] Education and non-profit organizations get an additional 10% off annual subscriptions, for 25% total. [2] Payment is accepted by wire transfer, ACH, or check besides credit card. [2] Zello Enterprise Server can be deployed on-premise. [6]

Peak PTT: a dedicated push-to-talk radio

Peak PTT sells a dedicated radio, the PTT-84G. [3] It transmits voice over AT&T's nationwide LTE network. [3] PeakPTT is described as having sub-300-millisecond latency, no dead zones, no repeaters, and no FCC licensing. [3] PeakPTT supports multiple simultaneous talk groups on one platform. [3] A single flat monthly rate covers unlimited nationwide push-to-talk on Tier-1 U.S. carrier networks, with 60-second GPS tracking included. [7] The optional dispatch seat add-on costs $12 per month per seat. [7] Both radios include access to the GPS Tracking Portal with 90-day location history, geofencing, and real-time crew visibility. [3] They come with a lifetime hardware warranty with an active service plan. [3]

Eartec: wireless headset systems

Eartec offers two Crane and Lift headset systems: EPak with Lazer-Pro, and PRO16 with Monarch. [8] All Eartec headsets include noise-canceling microphone technology to filter out background machinery noise. [8] The company says it has provided customer support for over 60 years. [8]

CrewPlex: full-duplex headset systems

CrewPlex provides full-duplex, hands-free communication that can be integrated with mobile two-way communications. [9] The large system serves crews of 6 to 10 as scalable full-duplex hands-free communication. [9] CrewPlex says it delivers high-quality audio and excellent range without breaking the budget. [9]

OperatorLink: STOP, HOLD and SLOW in a phone browser

OperatorLink is made by the team that publishes this site. [1] It shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew, and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [1] It runs in a phone browser with no app install. [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] On Android browsers signals such as STOP make the phone buzz; iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [1] The app can be added to a phone's home screen as a standalone app. [1] OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1]

How to pick the right GroupTalk alternative

Pick the option that matches how the crew communicates on the jobsite today. A crew that wants push-to-talk on the phones it already carries can look at Zello, which runs on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. [6] A crew that wants a handset that does not rely on a phone app can look at Peak PTT, which transmits voice over AT&T's LTE network and covers unlimited nationwide push-to-talk with one flat monthly rate. [3] [7] A crew that wants headsets on the lift can look at Eartec, whose EPak and PRO16 systems let several crew members connect and communicate at the same time on one setup. [8] CrewPlex states that its products provide full-duplex, hands-free communication that can be integrated with mobile two-way communications. [9] A crew that needs HOLD and SLOW signals shown on every phone can look at OperatorLink, which keeps HOLD and SLOW on for everyone and clears them when the last person leaves. [1] Compare fees with the table below, and check what is not published on each page, such as whether a monthly plan or a per-seat fee applies to the crew's size. Pick the tool that a crew member can start using with what the crew already owns.

Frequently asked questions

Is GroupTalk free for crane crews?

GroupTalk offers a free 14-day trial and a Talk to Sales contact on its page. [5] [4] The page does not state a per-user price, so a crew should ask sales what a paid plan would cost after the trial and whether private cloud or on-premises deployment changes the price. [5] Check the price that applies to the crew's size before picking GroupTalk.

Does OperatorLink work for a crane crew without an account?

OperatorLink runs in a phone browser with no app install. [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] A jobsite link stops working 12 hours after the first person joins, and a jobsite with nobody in it is wiped after 3 idle hours. [1] [1]

What does OperatorLink's STOP signal do for the crew?

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] On Android browsers signals such as STOP make the phone buzz; iPhone Safari ignores the buzz, so a crew member on an iPhone should watch the screen for the alert. [1]

How does Zello price a crane crew?

Zello Work costs $8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with an annual subscription, with a 14-day free trial that needs no credit card. [2] [2] Subscriptions can be changed or cancelled any time without penalty. [2] Payment is accepted by wire transfer, ACH, or check besides credit card, and Zello runs on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. [2] [6]

How does Peak PTT price a radio for a crew?

Peak PTT prices the PTT-84G at $229 with a $19.95 activation fee and $24.95/mo per radio for unlimited PTT, with no contracts. [3] One flat monthly rate covers unlimited nationwide push-to-talk on Tier-1 U.S. carrier networks, with 60-second GPS tracking included. [7] The optional dispatch seat add-on costs $12 per month per seat. [7] Both radios include access to the GPS Tracking Portal with 90-day location history, geofencing, and real-time crew visibility. [3] Both radios are backed by a lifetime hardware warranty with an active service plan. [3]

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. Peak PTT, peakptt.com/pages/construction-companies, read 2026-10-08
  4. GroupTalk, grouptalk.com/why-grouptalk/we-across-industries/construction, read 2026-10-08
  5. GroupTalk, grouptalk.com, read 2026-10-08
  6. Zello, zello.com, read 2026-10-08
  7. Peak PTT, peakptt.com/pages/peak-push-to-talk-pricing-matrix, read 2026-10-08
  8. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08
  9. Crewplex, crewplex.com/applications/cranes, read 2026-10-08

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