# MuffinTerm vs Packet Commander

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MuffinTerm at none against Packet Commander's 2. MuffinTerm also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for MuffinTerm against 4.9 for Packet Commander. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 44 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of MuffinTerm's written reviews are positive against 100% of Packet Commander's.

MuffinTerm ships an update every 3 weeks, Packet Commander every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MuffinTerm | Packet Commander |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/muffinterm/id1583236494/reviews) | **[4.9 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-commander/id6743951365/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 38 | **44** |
| Positive reviews | 93.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 3 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Molly Black](https://appshunter.io/developer/1561283027) | [Island Magic Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529387252) |

## What reviewers say

### MuffinTerm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/muffinterm/id1583236494)

Relive the classic BBS experience with a modern terminal emulator. Connect to telnet-enabled BBSes worldwide and enjoy pixel-accurate retro display modes and aesthetic effects like simulated modem speed and CRT curvature. Upload and download files with classic protocols.

**Highlights:** Telnet BBS connection, Authentic retro display modes (CP437, PETSCII, ATASCII), Simulated modem speed, CRT curvature and scanlines, File transfer (XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM), Digital sticky notes for BBSes

**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 MuffinTerm free?

MuffinTerm 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, MuffinTerm or Packet Commander?

Packet Commander is rated higher. MuffinTerm averages 4.9 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Packet Commander averages 4.9 from 44 ratings.

### Do MuffinTerm or Packet Commander have ads?

Neither MuffinTerm nor Packet Commander shows ads.

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

MuffinTerm ships an update every 3 weeks, and Packet Commander every 2 months. Most recently, MuffinTerm was updated on October 1, 2026 and Packet Commander on September 21, 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.*