# Waver vs Packet Commander

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Waver at none against Packet Commander's 2. Waver also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.2). Packet Commander's advantage is ratings volume (48 vs 12). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. Waver asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Waver against 4.9 for Packet Commander. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 48 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Waver ships an update every 3 days, Packet Commander every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Waver | Packet Commander |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waver-data-over-sound/id1543607865/reviews) | **[4.9 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-commander/id6743951365/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **48** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Georgi Gerganov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1543607867) | [Island Magic Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529387252) |

## What reviewers say

### Waver

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waver-data-over-sound/id1543607865)

Communicate with nearby devices using sound waves for text and file sharing. This app enables local messaging without an internet connection, utilizing your device's speaker and microphone.

**Highlights:** Text messaging via sound, File sharing over local network, Audible and ultrasound protocols, No internet connection required, Real-time audio spectrum analysis, Adjustable volume and transmission settings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Packet Commander

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-commander/id6743951365)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Subscription | $8.99 | per year |
| One-Time Purchase | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Waver free?

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

### Is Packet Commander free?

Packet Commander is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Waver or Packet Commander?

Packet Commander is rated higher. Waver averages 4.9 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Packet Commander averages 4.9 from 48 ratings.

### Do Waver or Packet Commander have ads?

Neither Waver nor Packet Commander shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Waver or Packet Commander?

Waver ships an update every 3 days, and Packet Commander every 2 months. Most recently, Waver was updated on October 24, 2026 and Packet Commander on October 24, 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.*