Comparison

Public Mobile vs Heard

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

Head to head
About

Public Mobile

This app offers a 5G wireless subscription service with self-service account management. Activate your service, manage plans, track usage, and earn rewards. Get 24/7 online support for all your mobile needs.

Highlights
  • 5G subscription phone service
  • eSIM activation
  • Self-service account management
  • Plan usage tracking
  • Rewards program
  • Refer-a-friend savings
  • 24/7 online support
Features
Read full description

Welcome to different. Public Mobile is a wireless subscription service that does mobility differently. Sign up for Canada's first 5G subscription phone service in a few simple steps. With the Public Mobile app, you're in control. Activate in minutes with eSIM along with an eSIM compatible device and choose from 5G speed plans and unlimited data on Canada's largest network. Manage your own account with easy, self-service features in the app. Just like your other subscription services set it and forget it. Download the Public Mobile app for free to get started. Subscribe with a few quick clicks in the app: • Select and activate your subscription • Save with a 90 day subscription • Purchase and activate your eSIM or SIM card • You can keep your phone number when you subscribe to Public Mobile. Manage your plan anywhere, anytime with My Account: • Manage your subscription • Track your plan usage • Purchase add-ons Earn points that save you money with our Rewards program: • Check rewards balance • Redeem your points • Refer-a-friend to share savings Skip the wait time with 24/7 online solutions: • Access virtual support at your fingertips • Find answers and ask questions Download the Public Mobile App now. Learn more at publicmobile.ca

About

Heard

Features
Read full description

Explore APRS like never before. Heard brings live amateur radio APRS activity to your iPhone and iPad with a clean, modern experience designed for discovering stations, following movement, messaging other operators, and understanding the signals around you. FEATURES • Native iPad layouts with the map and station details side by side • Weather reports and telemetry readings when supplied by stations • Live APRS map with semantic station categories • Explore nearby stations and recent activity • Search callsigns and view detailed station information • Track moving stations with breadcrumb trails and live following • Send and receive APRS messages in conversation-style threads • View station context including last heard, distance, status, and comments when available • Choose Standard, Satellite, or Hybrid map styles • QRZ integration for additional callsign information • Optional offline Canadian and United States callsign directories • Fast on-device callsign-directory lookup after download • Simple location-based listening setup • Live APRS-IS monitoring and messaging • Advanced connection details and diagnostics when you need them TRACK STATIONS Follow a moving APRS station while keeping the map in view. Heard can retain a recent breadcrumb trail, follow new position reports, center on the station, and reduce visual clutter from surrounding stations. Choose how much of the trail you want to see, from the last 10 minutes to the entire current tracking session. APRS MESSAGING Heard turns APRS messaging into a focused, conversation-first experience. Start a conversation directly from a station, send and receive messages, view delivery state where available, and move naturally between a conversation and that station on the map. CALLSIGN INFORMATION Quickly learn more about the stations you hear. Heard supports optional offline Canadian and United States callsign directories, with directory data stored locally after download. QRZ integration provides another convenient way to access additional callsign information when you want it. BUILT FOR AMATEUR RADIO Heard is designed to make APRS easier to explore without hiding the capabilities experienced operators expect. Everyday controls stay simple, while advanced connection settings and diagnostics remain available when needed. Whether monitoring local activity, exploring the APRS network, messaging another station, or following movement, Heard provides a simple and focused way to experience APRS on iPhone and iPad. Heard connects to the public APRS-IS network. Available stations, position reports, messages, and acknowledgements depend on live APRS network activity.

Screenshots

Public Mobile4 screens
Heard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Heard at every 2 days against Public Mobile's every 3 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Public Mobile ships an update every 3 weeks, Heard every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Public Mobile versus Heard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPublic MobileHeard
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (234 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews44.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings234 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size74 MB10 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperTELUS Communications Inc.Dan Tilsley

Bugs and requests

Public Mobile

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Activation issues
  • Logging in problems
  • App crashes and freezes
  • Unreliable service
  • Billing and payment issues

Requested features

3 requests
  • Wifi calling
  • Support for iPad/tablets
  • Improve customer service access

Heard

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Public Mobile

No in-app purchases

None

Heard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Public Mobile free?
Public Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Heard free?
Heard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Public Mobile or Heard have ads?
Neither Public Mobile nor Heard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Public Mobile or Heard?
Public Mobile ships an update every 3 weeks, and Heard every 2 days. Most recently, Public Mobile was updated on October 22, 2026 and Heard on October 10, 2026.

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