APRS pro Ultimate vs Packet Commander
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
APRS pro Ultimate
This app provides real-time APRS network access for ham radio operators. It allows users to track stations, find repeaters, and broadcast their location and status, with options for both internet and direct radio connection.
- Real-time APRS network access
- Map-based station tracking
- Built-in TNC audiomodem
- Broadcast location and status
- Search for repeaters and nodes
- Chat with other ham operators
- Dynamic symbol changes
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Receiving APRS is 100% free. Only TX is paid. Since APRS pro has been released, the popular hamradio network changed forever. This app has exciting features and a unique user interface because it was strictly designed for the most demanding hams only. Unlike other APRS apps, you can swipe your fingers along the map and find what’s happening in remote areas across the globe, in real time! With its built-in 300/1200 baud TNC audiomodem, you can optionally connect your iPhone directly to a HF or VHF Radio and work APRS (TX/RX) without cellular coverage. If you don't have a radio, the app will use the APRS-IS via internet, or you can use both systems simultaneously and gate RF traffic to IS, giving your contribution to the APRS-IS network. A digipeater is also included. Search remote stations, find local analogue and D-STAR repeaters, modes and frequencies, echolink nodes, ham swap events, ham fests and shops and eventually weather reports. The richness of the information is so vast that even hams who didn't appreciate doing APRS just became fans of APRS pro. Broadcast your own beacon! Send your location, speed, altitude, course, iPhone battery voltage and status, GPS signal quality and your own customizable text to the APRS network (including aprs.fi and findu.com) even when the app is running in background (it will drain less than 2% of your battery level every hour when running in background as the GPS will be turned ON only every ten minutes - with built in TNC switched off). If your device is charging, then the app will increase the transmission rate automatically. The innovative and robust software design lets the app running for days, weeks, even monhts either in foreground or background without ever stopping. APRSpro is a living app, just like the symbols of your beacon. If you are stopped you can "be" a "Cellphone", or a "Ham Operator". But if you start moving, the app will dinamically change your symbol to a "Car", or to a "Truck", even better, to an "RV". You are in full control, so you are the one who decides. When driving, look for the best route by watching the native Live Traffic information displayed on the map. Decide if you want to see POI (Points of Interest), buildings, trails, callsign labels and compass. Disable the native screen saver for a "Always ON" smooth operation. You can easily chat with other hams around the world, via the APRS network, as if you were just sending text messages. Our server will retrieve your messages and send them to you later even if you were offline. The app will instantly retrieve the remote station’s location address and operator’s name. This is just great to connect to new ham friends while travelling. Then, jusk ask them for the best local atractions. You can also link a SPOT/inReach Satellite tracking device to the APRS Network Check for updates regularly as we will keep adding advanced features very frequently! «Don't miss the excitement of the APRS activity! APRSpro is becoming a legend. Are you already a part of it?» 73, CT1EIZ Disclaimer: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Subscriptions: - D-Star Repeaters List: $0.99/month - Receive Messages while offline: $9.99/yr - SPOT/inReach Satellite to APRS: $14.99/yr - Enable TX: $9.99/year - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period - Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: aprspro/privacy.html - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that service.
Packet Commander
This app provides a classic terminal experience for packet radio communication on mobile devices. It offers powerful terminal features, smart connection management, and real-time over-the-air traffic monitoring. It's designed for amateur radio operators to connect with nodes, BBS, and decode traffic.
- Full-screen terminal for packet nodes and BBS
- Classic color themes and adjustable layout
- YAPP protocol support for file transfers
- Location-aware digipeater routing
- Seamless iCloud sync
- Over-the-air traffic decoding
- Auto-discovery of TNCs
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Packet Commander brings a classic terminal experience for packet radio to your iPhone or iPad. Try it free. The download includes 5 full connection sessions so you can explore the features and confirm compatibility before purchasing. After that, a purchase is required to continue connecting. Note: An amateur radio license is required to operate on the air. Powerful Terminal • Full-screen terminal for interacting with packet nodes and BBS over amateur radio • Classic color themes inspired by iconic computers • Adjustable fonts and layout for readability and screen efficiency • YAPP protocol support for file transfers • Dictation-ready for composing messages hands-free • Smart filename selection — double tap to highlight and copy Smarter Packet Connections • Location-aware digipeater routing: automatically recalls the last-used path at each location • Seamless iCloud sync for nodes and digipeaters across all your devices • Compatible with popular packet node software including BPQ32, URONode, and others Over-the-Air Monitor Connect to your radio and decode over-the-air traffic in real time. AX.25 frames are decoded and presented in an easy-to-read format. • Filter traffic to display exactly what you’re looking for • Search by address or content • Export the log to a file for later analysis Works with the Gear You Love • Auto-discovery of Bluetooth and TCP TNCs, including Dire Wolf on DigiPi • Automatic frequency set/restore on supported radios • Built-in, high-performance 1200 baud AFSK software modem • Optimized for VHF/UHF packet at both 1200 and 9600 baud Compatible with the Following Radios and TNCs: Radios with Built-in TNCs (Auto-sets and restores frequency on those radios) · BTECH UV-PRO, UV-50PRO · VERO VR-N76, VR-N7600 · RADIODITY GA-5WB, DB50-B · Kenwood TH-D74*, TH-D75* · PicoAPRS V4 *Requires B.B. Link Bluetooth adapter Portable KISS TNCs · Mobilinkd TNC3, TNC4 · LiNK500 TNC · DigiPi · Dire Wolf Software TNC Audio Interfaces (Using built-in software modem) · Digirig Lite · Digirig VOX PTT Cable · AIOC (All-In-One Cable) Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Packet Commander at 100% against APRS pro Ultimate's 9%. Packet Commander also leads on rating (4.9 vs 1.9). APRS pro Ultimate's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.2). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. APRS pro Ultimate sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month and Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Packet Commander holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 44 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 9% of APRS pro Ultimate's written reviews are positive against 100% of Packet Commander's.
| Parameter | APRS pro Ultimate | Packet Commander |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.9 (19 ratings) | 4.9 (44 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 8.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 19 | 44 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 18.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | P8G Software | Island Magic Co. |
Customer experience
APRS pro Ultimate
Packet Commander
In-app purchases
APRS pro Ultimate
- D-Star Repeaters List - Monthly Subscription$2.491 Month
- Receive messages while offline - 1 Year Subscription$4.491 Year
- Change My Symbol based on speed$7.991 Year
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- Enable APRS TX - 1 Year Subscription$8.991 Year
- Delorme inReach to APRS - 1 Year Subscription$13.491 Year
- SPOT Satellite to APRS - 1 Year Subscription$13.491 Year
- Enable APRS TX - Lifetime$15.99
- Unlock All Features - Lifetime$42.99
Packet Commander
- Yearly Subscription$8.991 Year
- One-Time Purchase$24.99







