PocketPacket vs SOTA Goat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
SOTA Goat
This app serves as a comprehensive assistant for the Summits On The Air amateur radio program. It offers an offline summit database, real-time spotting and alerts from SOTAwatch, and an integrated compass for navigation to activation zones. It's designed to help users plan and complete their radio activations effectively.
- Offline summit database
- SOTAwatch spotting and alerts
- Push notifications for activations
- Integrated compass for activation zones
- Summit tracking
- Export summits to KML/GPX
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SOTA Goat is the all-in-one summit database and spotting application for participants of the Summits On The Air amateur radio program. It was designed from the ground up as an invaluable tool for summit activators – as necessary as your transceiver and power supply! SOTA Goat provides all the tools to aid in planning and completing your activation. Mountain Goats and Shack Sloths alike will appreciate the comprehensive summit database and search features, as well as the ability to view and share summit activations and signal reports over SOTAwatch. This is a universal app that is available for all devices that support iOS 11+, including iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. OFFLINE SUMMIT DATABASE: • Every summit in the SOTA database is available offline: search, browse, and view a map • Download updates to the database to get the latest new associations • Star your favorite summits for easy access • Export summits to KML and GPX files for use in other applications or GPS devices SOTAWATCH3 SPOTS AND ALERTS: • View, add, and modify spots and alerts from SOTAwatch3 • Enable push notifications to be alerted of every new activation. Granular filtering ensures you only see the alerts you desire SUMMIT TRACKER: • Reach the summit with an integrated compass that lets you know when you're within the activation zone. With the help of SOTA Goat, you're on your way to become a Shack Sloth or a Mountain Goat in no time! Baaaaaah!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SOTA Goat at 4.5 against PocketPacket's 3.6. SOTA Goat also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 51%) and chart position (#190 vs unranked). PocketPacket's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
PocketPacket costs $4.99 and SOTA Goat $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SOTA Goat holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 32 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of PocketPacket's written reviews are positive against 80% of SOTA Goat's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PocketPacket | SOTA Goat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| Rating | 3.6 (13 ratings) | 4.5 (32 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 51.0% of reviews | 80.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 13 | 32 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #190 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Koomasi | Rockwell Schrock |
Customer experience
PocketPacket
SOTA Goat
In-app purchases
PocketPacket
No in-app purchases
SOTA Goat
No in-app purchases









