PocketPacket vs RadioMail
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
RadioMail
Access the Winlink amateur radio email system from your Apple devices. Send and receive messages over the internet or amateur radio, manage your inbox, and stay connected off-grid. Requires a valid amateur radio license.
- Send/receive email over internet or radio
- Background message checking
- Connect via Packet, ARDOP, VARA FM/HF
- Peer-to-peer email exchange
- Winlink station directory with best path prediction
- Smart mailboxes for organization
- Send resized photos over radio
- Compose and view Winlink forms
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RadioMail gives you access to the Winlink amateur radio email system from your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Silicon Mac. Send and receive email over the internet or amateur radio, manage your messages, and stay connected when you’re away from traditional communications. A valid amateur radio license is required. SEND YOUR WAY Send and receive email over Wi-Fi or cellular when you’re online, or hold messages for your next radio session. RadioMail can also check for new messages in the background and notify you when they arrive. GET ON THE AIR Connect to Winlink stations using Packet, ARDOP, or VARA FM and HF. RadioMail works with a growing range of radios, TNCs, and software modems, and lets you save multiple devices so they’re ready when you need them. Supported radios: * BTECH UV-PRO, UV-50PRO * VERO VR-N76, VR-N7600 * RADIODITY GA-5WB, DB50-B * Kenwood TH-D74 and TH-D75 with B.B. Link adapter * Icom IC-705 over Bluetooth + USB, or Wi-Fi * PicoAPRS V4 Supported KISS TNCs and software modems: * Mobilinkd * DigiPi * Dire Wolf * LiNK500 VARA FM and HF require a VARA modem running on a separate computer. Packet and VARA FM also support configurable digipeaters. PACKET AND ARDOP BUILT IN No separate modem is needed for supported setups. RadioMail includes built-in 1200 baud Packet and ARDOP modems that work with: * Digirig Lite * AIOC (All-In-One Cable) * Icom IC-705 PEER-TO-PEER EMAIL Exchange email directly with another station using Packet or ARDOP. RadioMail can listen for incoming peer-to-peer connections, making it easy for another station to reach you. FIND THE BEST STATION Browse the Winlink station directory and use Best Path Prediction to find stations you’re most likely to reach. Save favorites for quick access or add your own stations for peer-to-peer operation. KEEP EMAIL ORGANIZED Search your mail, flag important messages, and quickly find unread messages, attachments, forms, and today’s email with Smart Mailboxes. Select multiple messages at once when it’s time to clean up. SEND PHOTOS OVER RADIO Take a photo or choose one from your library. RadioMail can resize it to reduce transfer time over radio. Received attachments can be previewed, saved, or shared with other apps. USE WINLINK FORMS Compose and view standard Winlink forms without leaving RadioMail. Forms update automatically, and location fields can use your current GPS position. Search the Forms Library to find the form you need, or import your own custom forms from ZIP files. On iPhone, an experimental mobile layout makes supported forms easier to fill out on a smaller screen. SHARE YOUR POSITION Send your current location as a Winlink position report for publication on the APRS network. USE YOUR CONTACTS Send mail from your primary Winlink callsign or tactical addresses, and address messages to Winlink or Internet email recipients. RadioMail suggests people and lists from your Contacts as you type. MADE FOR IPHONE, IPAD, AND MAC Use RadioMail on the device that works best for you. On iPad, a three-column layout makes the most of the larger screen, and compose windows can open separately with Windowed Apps. RadioMail for iPad also runs on Apple Silicon Macs. STAY IN SYNC WITH ICLOUD Your messages, stations, and account information stay in sync through iCloud, so you can move between your devices and continue where you left off. RadioMail is independently developed and is not affiliated with the Amateur Radio Safety Foundation, Inc. (ARSFI), which supports the Winlink Global Radio Email system. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: RadioMail at Free against PocketPacket's $4.99. RadioMail also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.6) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 4 months). PocketPacket's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#155 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads 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
RadioMail is free to download; PocketPacket costs $4.99 up front. RadioMail sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per year. PocketPacket asks for nothing beyond the download.
RadioMail holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of PocketPacket's written reviews are positive against 75% of RadioMail's.
PocketPacket ships an update every 4 months, RadioMail every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PocketPacket | RadioMail |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.6 (13 ratings) | 4.7 (10 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 51.0% of reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 13 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #155 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Koomasi | Island Magic Co. |
Customer experience
PocketPacket
RadioMail
In-app purchases
PocketPacket
No in-app purchases
RadioMail
- Yearly Subscription$11.991 Year
- One-Time Purchase$49.99








