# NAVTEX Pad vs Packet Commander

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Packet Commander at 100% against NAVTEX Pad's 27%. Packet Commander also leads on price (Free vs $2.99) and rating (4.9 vs 1.9). NAVTEX Pad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.2). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Packet Commander is free to download; NAVTEX Pad costs $2.99 up front. Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. NAVTEX Pad asks for nothing beyond the download.

Packet Commander holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 48 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of NAVTEX Pad's written reviews are positive against 100% of Packet Commander's.

NAVTEX Pad ships an update every 17 months, Packet Commander every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NAVTEX Pad | Packet Commander |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [1.9 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navtex-pad/id385592736/reviews) | **[4.9 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-commander/id6743951365/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **48** |
| Positive reviews | 27.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 3 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Black Cat Systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/301047032) | [Island Magic Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529387252) |

## What reviewers say

### NAVTEX Pad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navtex-pad/id385592736)

Decode NAVTEX and RTTY marine weather transmissions on your iOS device. View safety messages and weather reports without a dedicated receiver. Save and transfer decoded text for later use.

**Highlights:** Decodes NAVTEX transmissions, Decodes RTTY (BAUDOT & ASCII), Saves received text, Transfers text to computer, Displays NAVTEX schedules, No dedicated receiver needed

**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 NAVTEX Pad free?

NAVTEX Pad costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Packet Commander free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NAVTEX Pad or Packet Commander?

Packet Commander is rated higher. NAVTEX Pad averages 1.9 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Packet Commander averages 4.9 from 48 ratings.

### Do NAVTEX Pad or Packet Commander have ads?

Neither NAVTEX Pad nor Packet Commander shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NAVTEX Pad or Packet Commander?

NAVTEX Pad ships an update every 17 months, and Packet Commander every 2 months. Most recently, NAVTEX Pad was updated on October 29, 2026 and Packet Commander on October 24, 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.*