# RepeaterPhone vs Packet Commander

The clearest difference is price: Packet Commander at Free against RepeaterPhone's $7.99. Packet Commander also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (100% vs 71%). RepeaterPhone's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Packet Commander is free to download; RepeaterPhone costs $7.99 up front. Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. RepeaterPhone asks for nothing beyond the download.

Packet Commander holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 86 and 44 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of RepeaterPhone's written reviews are positive against 100% of Packet Commander's.

RepeaterPhone ships an update weekly, Packet Commander every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RepeaterPhone | Packet Commander |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $7.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (86 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/repeaterphone/id1637247024/reviews) | **[4.9 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-commander/id6743951365/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **86** | 44 |
| Positive reviews | 70.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#43** | — |
| Size | 12 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Weston Bustraan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1039650802) | [Island Magic Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529387252) |

## What reviewers say

### RepeaterPhone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/repeaterphone/id1637247024)

**Currently charting:** #43 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

Connect your mobile device to EchoLink or AllStarLink radio nodes, repeaters, and conferences. Features a push-to-talk interface, node directory search, and favorites for quick access. Supports Bluetooth headsets and includes a watch extension for convenient control.

**Highlights:** Push-to-talk interface, EchoLink/AllStarLink node connection, Node directory search, Favorite nodes, Bluetooth headset support, Watch extension control

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent audio quality
- 👍 Works well for Allstar and EchoLink
- 👍 Great for travel/remote access
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use interface
- 👍 Good value for the price

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 Volume too low/audio issues
- 🐛 Connection issues with some nodes/networks
- 🐛 App closes when screen locks/in background
- 🐛 Authentication/login failures

**Reported bugs**

- Authentication failed on setup
- App crashes with latest iOS
- iPhone 16 Pro will not connect
- Many Allstar nodes reject connection attempts
- Crashes sometimes, interrupting calls

**Requested features**

- DTMF presets on dial page
- Apple CarPlay integration
- CQ function inclusion
- Organize nodes by location/group chat
- See total people connected before connecting


### 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 RepeaterPhone free?

RepeaterPhone costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Packet Commander free?

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

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

Packet Commander is rated higher. RepeaterPhone averages 4.4 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while Packet Commander averages 4.9 from 44 ratings.

### Do RepeaterPhone or Packet Commander have ads?

Neither RepeaterPhone nor Packet Commander shows ads.

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

RepeaterPhone ships an update weekly, and Packet Commander every 2 months. Most recently, RepeaterPhone was updated on September 24, 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.*