# PocketPacket vs FT8 Decoder

The clearest difference is rating: FT8 Decoder at 4.3 against PocketPacket's 3.6. FT8 Decoder also leads on price ($1.99 vs $4.99). PocketPacket's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 18 months) and chart position (#184 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

PocketPacket costs $4.99 and FT8 Decoder $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

FT8 Decoder holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 8 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 51% and 50% positive.

PocketPacket ships an update every 4 months, FT8 Decoder every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketPacket | FT8 Decoder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | [3.6 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketpacket/id336500866/reviews) | **[4.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ft8-decoder/id1592847401/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **50.5% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 18 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#184** | — |
| Size | 19 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Koomasi](https://appshunter.io/developer/336500869) | [HotPaw Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/285074853) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketPacket

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketpacket/id336500866)

**Currently charting:** #184 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

This app serves as a comprehensive client for the Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS), enabling amateur radio operators to send and receive real-time data like position, status, and messages. It features a built-in TNC for direct radio communication and internet connectivity via the APRS-IS network.

**Highlights:** Full-featured APRS client, Built-in software TNC, 1200 baud AFSK modulation, APRS-IS internet connectivity, Map visualization of data, Object and message lists, Real-time weather reports

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### FT8 Decoder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ft8-decoder/id1592847401)

This application decodes FT8 digital signals from amateur radio bands. It can process audio from external sources or directly from an SSB radio or SDR. The app also generates FT8 modulated audio for experimentation.

**Highlights:** Decodes FT8 8FSK modulated signals, Processes external audio or SDR sound, Supports standard callsigns and 13-character messages, Generates FT8 message audio, Experiment with sending and receiving FT8 audio

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketPacket free?

PocketPacket costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is FT8 Decoder free?

FT8 Decoder costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PocketPacket or FT8 Decoder?

FT8 Decoder is rated higher. PocketPacket averages 3.6 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while FT8 Decoder averages 4.3 from 8 ratings.

### Do PocketPacket or FT8 Decoder have ads?

Neither PocketPacket nor FT8 Decoder shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PocketPacket or FT8 Decoder?

PocketPacket ships an update every 4 months, and FT8 Decoder every 18 months. Most recently, PocketPacket was updated on September 18, 2026 and FT8 Decoder 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.*