# RS vs Beartooth for iPhone

The clearest difference is rating: Beartooth for iPhone at 2.8 against RS's 1.9. Beartooth for iPhone also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months) and review sentiment (30% vs 15%). RS's advantage is ratings volume (76 vs 9). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Beartooth for iPhone holds the better App Store score, 2.8 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RS has 76 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of RS's written reviews are positive against 30% of Beartooth for iPhone's.

RS ships an update every 8 months, Beartooth for iPhone every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RS | Beartooth for iPhone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (76 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rs-ms1i/id1193842632/reviews) | **[2.8 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beartooth-for-iphone/id1208361416/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **76** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 14.7% of reviews | **30.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 34 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ICOM INCORPORATED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1193842631) | [Beartooth Radio INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114207504) |

## What reviewers say

### RS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rs-ms1i/id1193842632)

Control compatible transceivers, share voice and pictures, and view station locations on a map. Access received station information, send text messages, and manage call sign and repeater lists. Customize transceiver and application settings for a streamlined experience.

**Highlights:** Transceiver DR functions, Send and receive voice and pictures, Map repeater and station locations, Read and edit received station information, Send and receive text messages, Manage call sign and repeater lists, Import/Export data

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works with IC-705
- 👍 Works with ID-52
- 👍 Map feature useful
- 👍 Past contacts visible
- 👍 Quick bug fixes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes on map screen
- 🐛 Crashes when sending photos
- 🐛 Bluetooth connectivity issues
- 🐛 Not connecting to ID-52
- 🐛 Not connecting to iPhone

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when using map function
- App crashes on map screen
- App closes when opening map
- Not staying connected to the app
- Connection unsuccessful error message

**Requested features**

- Add support for ID-5100
- Add support for ID-51A Plus 2
- Add support for ID-50
- Add support for IC-705
- Improve repeater list


### Beartooth for iPhone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beartooth-for-iphone/id1208361416)

This application connects to a specialized handheld device, enabling communication without cellular service. It offers push-to-talk voice calls and text messaging for groups or individuals, extending connectivity for outdoor adventures.

**Highlights:** Push-to-talk voice communication, One-on-one and group text messaging, Topographic maps for explorers, Connects to Beartooth handheld device, Works without cell service

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🗺️ Great map feature
- 🗣️ Excellent voice quality
- 💡 Innovative concept
- 🚀 Setup is simple

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Does not work
- 💸 Overpriced
- 🔋 Poor battery life
- 🔌 Connection issues
- 📉 Limited range

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when scanning for other users
- App crashes when scanning for contacts
- Device does not stay connected via Bluetooth
- Device disconnects after half an hour
- Firmware update didn't work with iPhone

**Requested features**

- iPad compatibility
- Adjust power settings to be more user friendly
- Update dull colors on the app, offer color selection options
- Improve UI and interface simplicity and function
- Add dark mode option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RS free?

RS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Beartooth for iPhone free?

Beartooth for iPhone is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, RS or Beartooth for iPhone?

Beartooth for iPhone is rated higher. RS averages 1.9 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while Beartooth for iPhone averages 2.8 from 9 ratings.

### Do RS or Beartooth for iPhone have ads?

Neither RS nor Beartooth for iPhone shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RS or Beartooth for iPhone?

RS ships an update every 8 months, and Beartooth for iPhone every 3 weeks. Most recently, RS was updated on October 17, 2026 and Beartooth for iPhone on October 13, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*