# PocketPacket vs Packet Commander

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Packet Commander at 100% against PocketPacket's 51%. Packet Commander also leads on price (Free vs $4.99) and rating (4.9 vs 3.6). PocketPacket's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#184 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Packet Commander is free to download; PocketPacket costs $4.99 up front. Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. PocketPacket asks for nothing beyond the download.

Packet Commander holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 44 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of PocketPacket's written reviews are positive against 100% of Packet Commander's.

PocketPacket ships an update every 4 months, Packet Commander every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketPacket | Packet Commander |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.6 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketpacket/id336500866/reviews) | **[4.9 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-commander/id6743951365/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **44** |
| Positive reviews | 50.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#184** | — |
| Size | 19 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Koomasi](https://appshunter.io/developer/336500869) | [Island Magic Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529387252) |

## 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


### 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 PocketPacket free?

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

### Is Packet Commander free?

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

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

Packet Commander is rated higher. PocketPacket averages 3.6 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Packet Commander averages 4.9 from 44 ratings.

### Do PocketPacket or Packet Commander have ads?

Neither PocketPacket nor Packet Commander shows ads.

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

PocketPacket ships an update every 4 months, and Packet Commander every 2 months. Most recently, PocketPacket was updated on September 18, 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.*