iTAK vs APRSSwift
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iTAK
This app provides real-time collaborative mapping and team tracking. Share locations, sensor data, videos, and chat with your team. Supports online and offline mapping with various data formats.
- Real-time team tracking
- Collaborative mapping
- Online and offline mapping
- KML/KMZ/GeoPDF overlay import
- Chat and file sharing
- Live video streaming
- Navigation tools
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**Compatible with ALL TAK ecosystem (TAK server, WinTAK, ATAK, WebTAK)** The Team Awareness Kit (TAK) (known as the Tactical Assault Kit in the Department of Defense) application: iTAK is a collaborative geospatial application to see your teams’ locations, sensor information, videos, chat, and more in real-time. iTAK supports Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial sector standards for icons, sensor information, and communication. Data can be pre-loaded into iTAK or downloaded from the network (via TAK Server) when available. iTAK capabilities include: • Online and offline mapping (most standard formats), download the maps right in the app • Blue force / team tracking (BFT) • Collaborative mapping, including points, drawings, locations of interest • Import and display of KML, KMZ, GeoPDF overlays • Location marking, sharing, with photo tagging • Chat, file sharing, photo sharing • Live video streaming with the ability to share video links • Spotted map to mark and share multiple locations across your map • Digital pointer to rapidly mark and share items on the map with your team • Navigation-walking/hiking, driving, also useful flying and air-ground coordination • Center on self or other objects (e.g. another person in the network) • Range, bearing measurement tools • Team Emergency Beacons • Customizable toolbar • 3D perspective • All data is secured and fully compatibility with the TAK ecosystem (ATAK, TAK Server, WinTAK) • Useful for law enforcement, first responders, hunting, fishing, ornithology, wildlife site survey System Requirements Operating System: iOS version 17 and later.
APRSSwift
Track and message on the APRS network with your amateur radio callsign. View nearby stations on a live map, exchange text messages, and decode various packet types. Supports multiple connection methods and includes an Apple Watch app.
- Live APRS map with station tracking
- Two-way APRS messaging
- Full packet decoding
- Multiple connection methods
- Apple Watch app integration
- SmartBeaconing for adaptive beaconing
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APRSSwift brings the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) to your Apple devices — a native, universal amateur-radio app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Report your position to the APRS network, watch nearby stations move on a live map, read a real-time packet log, and exchange APRS text messages — all with your own callsign. FEATURES • Live map with APRS symbols, station tracks, and your own location • Connect via APRS-IS (Internet), a TCP KISS TNC, a Bluetooth TNC (Mobilinkd), or the built-in AFSK sound modem (1200 baud — no extra hardware) • Full packet decoding: position, Mic-E, compressed, objects, items, status, weather, messages, and telemetry • SmartBeaconing — adaptive beacon rate based on speed and turns • Two-way APRS messaging with acknowledgements • Station list with distance, favorites, and proximity alerts • Maidenhead grid locator, metric or imperial units, and dead reckoning • Post APRS objects, send status reports, and view weather & telemetry charts • Apple Watch app: beacon, grid, and nearby stations on your wrist APRSSwift is designed for licensed amateur radio operators. A valid callsign is required; your APRS-IS passcode is generated automatically from it. 73!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: APRSSwift at 100% against iTAK's 41%. APRSSwift also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.5) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). iTAK's advantage is ratings volume (156 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
APRSSwift holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iTAK has 156 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of iTAK's written reviews are positive against 100% of APRSSwift's.
iTAK ships an update every 3 weeks, APRSSwift every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iTAK | APRSSwift |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (156 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 156 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 278 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | United States Department of the Army, TAK Product Center | Sevket Bugra CANATA |
Customer experience
iTAK
APRSSwift
Bugs and requests
iTAK
Reported bugs
23 issues- App crashes when exporting data packages
- App crashes when uploading files with local data
- App crashes when importing overlays
- App crashes when changing map types
- App crashes when creating missions
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- App freezes when handling large numbers of objects (15+)
- Indoor mapping causes app shutdown
- Markers disappear on app reopening
- Markers don't sync deletion status with ATAK users
- HTTP video stream links don't work
- Mesh network mode not functioning properly
- Settings reset to defaults on restart
- Toolbar disappears randomly
- Notification badges don't clear properly
- Unable to rename points of interest
- Duplicate server entries appear
- Unexpected shutdowns and crashes
- Connection failures to TAK servers
- Message notifications not appearing on iPhone
- App won't launch after deletion/reinstallation
- Data Sync broken in version 2.10.1
- Overlay import causes instant crash
- Markers become invisible with ArcGIS updates
Requested features
23 requests- Meshtastic and LoRa device support
- GRG (Grid Reference Graphic) functionality
- Mesh network integration (GoTenna, Beartooth)
- Plugin support system
- Google Maps or alternative map providers
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- Offline map download capability
- Angular measurement unit conversion (degrees to mil)
- Nautical miles unit of measurement
- Video stream support (HTTP/RTSP)
- CASEVAC calling functionality
- Polar plot tool
- Data package import from Android ATAK
- Bluetooth radio integration
- Apple Watch companion app
- Ability to edit and delete toolbar items
- True/Magnetic bearing distinction
- Point dragging and repositioning
- Contact/team management system
- Mission creation and editing
- Windows TAK Server version
- Improved notification system
- Chinese language support
- Better documentation and tutorials
APRSSwift
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iTAK
No in-app purchases
APRSSwift
No in-app purchases









