Groundwire vs Ro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Groundwire
This SIP softphone client provides high-quality voice and video calls with robust security and customization options. It integrates seamlessly with VoIP providers for personal and professional use, offering features like instant messaging and call transfers.
- Exceptional audio quality
- HD video calls
- Robust security with encryption
- Battery efficient push notifications
- Seamless call transition
- Customizable SIP settings and UI
- Instant messaging and group calls
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Groundwire: the SIP softphone for your PBX or VoIP provider Groundwire is a SIP softphone app from Acrobits, a leader in VoIP and communication software since 2009. It delivers clear voice and video calls for personal and professional use, with an interface built for daily calling and none of the clutter. IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ Groundwire is a SIP client, not a VoIP service. You need service from a VoIP provider or PBX that supports standard SIP clients. Business calling features Groundwire carries the call handling you expect from a desk phone: - Group calls, for conferencing several people into one conversation. - Attended transfers, so you can announce a caller before handing the call over. - Unattended transfers, when the caller just needs the right extension. - Voicemail with notifications, so a missed call still reaches you. - Instant messaging, for the things that do not need a call. - Per-account settings, so one device carries several SIP identities cleanly. Works with your PBX or VoIP provider Groundwire is a universal client and true VoIP for PBX users. Teams run it as an Asterisk softphone, a FreePBX extension, or a 3CX endpoint, and it connects just as readily to hosted PBX systems and business phone providers. It also comes preconfigured for major providers, so setup takes minutes. Because it is a standard client, there is no lock-in: bring the account you already have, and Groundwire becomes the mobile extension of your PBX, with encrypted SIP calling on every network. On a team it is the business softphone dialer sitting on top of the PBX you already pay for. On your own it keeps a work line separate, or carries a desk extension in your pocket. Key features of the softphone - Audio on widely used codecs, Opus, G.729 and G.711 among them. - Video calls at 720p HD, carried by H.264 and VP8. - Private conversations with military-grade encryption, including TLS, SRTP, and ZRTP. - Low battery use thanks to efficient push notifications. - The VoIP dialer hands calls over between WiFi and mobile data without dropping them. - Custom call settings, UI, and ringtones per account. - 5G ready and compatible with most mobile operating systems. A softphone app without the fees Groundwire is a softphone for calling over WiFi and mobile data, with the business dialer features that usually cost a monthly fee. One payment, no subscription, nothing hidden: buy it once and it stays yours. Encryption sits inside that price rather than on top of it. Run a call center, manage a fleet of extensions, or keep a dependable sip phone for a home office. The same app covers all of it, without extra tiers. Download Groundwire and put a dependable SIP dialer on your phone, with Acrobits engineering and responsive support behind it.
Ro
This focus timer uses the Pomodoro Technique to break work into focused sessions with short breaks. It offers customizable timers, ambient sounds, and detailed stats to help users stay sharp and avoid burnout. Live Activity and Dynamic Island integration keep your countdown visible.
- Pomodoro Technique timer
- Customizable work/break durations
- Ambient soundscapes
- Live Activity & Dynamic Island integration
- Detailed focus stats
- Background notifications
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炉 Ro is a focus timer built for people who take their time seriously. Based on the Pomodoro Technique, Ro breaks your work into focused sessions separated by short breaks — helping you stay sharp, avoid burnout, and actually finish what you start. FOCUS WITHOUT FRICTION Start a session and get to work. Ro handles the rest — automatically starting breaks, tracking your time, and keeping you in flow. LIVE ACTIVITY & DYNAMIC ISLAND Your countdown lives on the lock screen and in the Dynamic Island. Glance and get back to work. AMBIENT SOUND Rain, café, or fire — choose a sound to block out the world and stay locked in. STATS THAT MEAN SOMETHING See your weekly sessions, total focus time, best day, and current streak. Every minute counts — even partial sessions are tracked. FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE Set your own work and break durations. Choose how many sessions before a long break. Auto-start breaks or step away on your own terms. NOTIFICATIONS Get notified the moment a session ends — even when the app is in the background. Ro is designed with a cinematic dark aesthetic inspired by forge light and darkroom photography. No ads. No subscriptions. No noise. Just work.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Ro at 5.0 against Groundwire's 3.8. Ro also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 59%) and price ($0.99 vs $9.99). Groundwire's advantage is ratings volume (120 vs 3) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks). On ads, monetization model, device support and iOS requirement 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
Groundwire costs $9.99 and Ro $0.99 up front. Groundwire sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ro asks for nothing beyond the download.
Ro holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Groundwire has 120 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Groundwire's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ro's.
Groundwire ships an update every 10 days, Ro every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Groundwire | Ro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.8 (120 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 59.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 120 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #21 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 93 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Acrobits | Zachary Foerst |
Customer experience
Groundwire
Ro
Bugs and requests
Groundwire
Reported bugs
4 issues- Dropped calls and registration issues
- Keypad not working during some calls
- Call history pagination problems
- Contact search functionality broken
Requested features
5 requests- Dark mode or high-contrast theme
- Native iPad support
- SMS/text messaging integration
- Ability to select system ringtones
- Improved Bluetooth device handling
Ro
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Groundwire
- ZRTP For Outgoing Calls$24.99
Ro
No in-app purchases









