Comparison

Beartooth MKII vs Packet Commander

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Beartooth MKII

Create a private, cellular-independent communication network with teammates. Share locations, text messages, and pictures, compatible with ATAK. Requires a Beartooth MKII device.

Highlights
  • Private network creation
  • Cellular-independent communication
  • Location sharing
  • Text messaging
  • Picture sharing
  • ATAK compatibility
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Beartooth connects you with other Beartooth-carrying teammates, where together you build a private network, completely independent of cellular.  Effortlessly send location, text messages, and pictures cross-compatible with ATAK. This app requires a Beartooth MKII device.

About

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.

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
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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

Beartooth MKII1 screens
Packet Commander4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Packet Commander at 100% against Beartooth MKII's 0%. Packet Commander also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months). Beartooth MKII's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.2). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Packet Commander holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Packet Commander has 44 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Beartooth MKII's written reviews are positive against 100% of Packet Commander's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Beartooth MKII ships an update every 10 months, Packet Commander every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Beartooth MKII versus Packet Commander: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBeartooth MKIIPacket Commander
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.9 (44 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings244 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 2 months — better
Ads—No
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Devices—iPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.6 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBeartooth Radio INCIsland Magic Co.

Customer experience

Beartooth MKII

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Packet Commander

All ratings44 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Beartooth MKII

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Packet Commander

Subscriptions1
  • Yearly Subscription$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • One-Time Purchase$24.99

Questions

Is Beartooth MKII free?
Beartooth MKII 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, Beartooth MKII or Packet Commander?
Packet Commander is rated higher. Beartooth MKII averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Packet Commander averages 4.9 from 44 ratings.
Which is updated more often, Beartooth MKII or Packet Commander?
Beartooth MKII ships an update every 10 months, and Packet Commander every 2 months. Most recently, Beartooth MKII was updated on September 19, 2026 and Packet Commander on September 21, 2026.

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