Comparison

PocketPacket vs HAM

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

Head to head
About

PocketPacket

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
Currently charting
Read full description

PocketPacket is a full-featured APRS client with a built-in TNC. The "Automatic Position Reporting System" is a packet communication protocol used by amateur radio operators (hams) around the world, to report position, status, station capabilities, weather or other information in real time. Packets can also be used for broadcasting announcements or one-to-one messaging. PocketPacket incorporates a software-based TNC, allowing you to directly capture and visualize, or encode and transmit 1200 baud packets (AFSK modulation) using a VHF radio transceiver. With PocketPacket you can also get and send packets over the Internet, by selecting one of the available Tier 2 servers of the global APRS-IS network. Incoming data is presented on a map, as most packets define some object, with a specific symbol and location. By selecting a symbol, you can view the latest information sent for the corresponding object, as well as the raw packets that produced it. All available objects are also shown in a list, which allows you to search for the ones you are looking for. Messages and bulletins are shown in a separate set of screens, structured like an e-mail client. With PocketPacket you can follow the status of the APRS network, submit your station's info, monitor moving objects, get real time weather reports directly from local stations and more. PocketPacket is ideal for field work or the ham shack. 73 de SV9OAN

About

HAM

This utility app offers a comprehensive suite of tools for amateur radio operators, including band conditions, DX-Cluster monitoring, and a logbook. It features direct radio integration for tuning and automatic logging, along with various calculations and resource information.

Highlights
  • DX-Cluster and PSK-Reporter activity monitoring
  • Bandplan, Glossar, and AWG resource information
  • Built-in radio integration for direct tuning
  • Fully featured logbook with QSO editing
  • LOTW and QRZ.com log submission
  • Calculations for Ohm's law, VSWR, and antennas
  • CW Encoder and Decoder
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The ultimate utility App for every HAM-Radio Operator HAM-Toolbox provides a variety of useful Tools to help you operating your HAM-Radio. The Tools are ranging from activity monitoring Tools like DX-Cluster and PSK-Reporter, to Tools helping you with resource information like Bandplan, Glossar, AWG and many more Tools. HAM-Toolbox also has a built-in radio integration, so that you can directly tune to spots from the DX-Cluster and other tools. During logging, the appropriate fields for the frequency and mode will be automatically filled. With a one-time purchase you gain access to all of the following Tools on your iPhone, iPad and Mac. · TOOLS: + Band Conditions + POTA + DX-Cluster + PSK-Reporter + Reverse Beacon Network + Call-Lookup + Locator + Beacons (especially NCDXF) + Repeater + DTMF Generator + CW Encoder and Decoder + Frequency List + QSL Card Designer (design, preview, print and export your own QSL cards) · LOGBOOK: HAM-Toolbox comes with a fully featured Logbook. + Inspect and edit your existing QSOs + Easy-to-use logging interface + Maintenance (Data completion from QRZ.com, Duplicates finder, Mass change) + LOTW and QRZ.com log submission + Integrated Call-Lookup with possibility to update QSO + Worked/Needed statistics for CQ-Zones, ITU-Zones and DXCCs + Map with worked grid locators representation + iCloud-Sync with multiple devices (compatible with SDR-Control and SmartSDR) · Radio-Integration: + Frequency and Mode + Logbook integration + Direct tuning from various Tools like DXCluster, POTA, Frequency List + Supports all major Brands and Radios via Network or USB + YAESU: FT-710, FT-991, FT-DX10, FT-DX100 + Icom: IC-705, IC-7300mk2, IC-7300, IC-7610, IC-7760, IC-9700, IC-R8600, + Kenwood: TS-890, TS-990 + Elecraft: K4 + HamLib · CALCULATIONS: + Ohm's law + VSWR + Dipole-Antenna + Groundplane-Antenna + HB9CV-Antenna + Helix-Antenna + dB Conversion + Wavelength · RESOURCES: + Bandplan + Glossar + Morse + AWG + CTCSS-Codes + Formulas + Q-Codes + Abbreviations + Constants Find out more here: https://ham-toolbox.com Read the Manual: https://go-to.me/hamtoolbox-manual

Screenshots

PocketPacket3 screens
HAM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PocketPacket at $4.99 against HAM's $14.99. PocketPacket also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). HAM's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.6) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and chart position 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

PocketPacket costs $4.99 and HAM $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HAM holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of PocketPacket's written reviews are positive against 69% of HAM's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PocketPacket ships an update every 4 months, HAM monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
PocketPacket versus HAM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPocketPacketHAM
Price$4.99 — better$14.99
Rating3.6 (13 ratings)4.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews51.0% of reviews69.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings13 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#154#150 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB83 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKoomasiMarcus Roskosch

Customer experience

PocketPacket

All ratings13 ratings
Positive69.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative23.1%
Written reviews96 reviews
Positive51.0%
Neutral11.5%
Negative37.5%

HAM

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive69.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative23.1%

In-app purchases

None

PocketPacket

No in-app purchases

None

HAM

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PocketPacket free?
PocketPacket costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is HAM free?
HAM costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PocketPacket or HAM?
HAM is rated higher. PocketPacket averages 3.6 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while HAM averages 4.0 from 7 ratings.
Do PocketPacket or HAM have ads?
Neither PocketPacket nor HAM shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PocketPacket or HAM?
PocketPacket ships an update every 4 months, and HAM monthly. Most recently, PocketPacket was updated on October 11, 2026 and HAM on October 5, 2026.
Which is more popular, PocketPacket or HAM?
PocketPacket currently peaks at #154 in the App Store charts, and HAM at #150. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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