# PocketPacket vs Handi

The clearest difference is price: Handi at Free against PocketPacket's $4.99. Handi also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.6) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 months). PocketPacket's advantage is chart position (#155 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Handi is free to download; PocketPacket costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Handi holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of PocketPacket's written reviews are positive against 67% of Handi's.

PocketPacket ships an update every 4 months, Handi every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketPacket | Handi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.6 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketpacket/id336500866/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handi-talky-commander/id6786154035/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 51.0% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#155** | — |
| Size | 19 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Koomasi](https://appshunter.io/developer/336500869) | [Ylian Saint-Hilaire](https://appshunter.io/developer/6786138083) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketPacket

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

**Currently charting:** #155 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


### Handi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handi-talky-commander/id6786154035)

This app serves as a central hub for amateur radio operators, enabling them to connect their transceivers to mobile devices. It facilitates radio programming, messaging, mapping, and packet-radio communications.

**Highlights:** Radio channel management, APRS messaging, Winlink email, Packet terminal, Interactive map, File exchange

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketPacket free?

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

### Is Handi free?

Handi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PocketPacket or Handi?

Handi is rated higher. PocketPacket averages 3.6 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Handi averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do PocketPacket or Handi have ads?

Neither PocketPacket nor Handi shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PocketPacket or Handi?

PocketPacket ships an update every 4 months, and Handi every 2 days. Most recently, PocketPacket was updated on October 26, 2026 and Handi on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*