# Packet Pad vs SWLog

The clearest difference is price: SWLog at Free against Packet Pad's $2.99. SWLog also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 13 months). Packet Pad's advantage is review sentiment (53% vs 25%) and chart position (#191 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

SWLog is free to download; Packet Pad costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Packet Pad ships an update every 13 months, SWLog fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Packet Pad | SWLog |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[3.8 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-pad/id385609173/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **17** | — |
| Positive reviews | **53.3% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#191** | — |
| Size | 2 MB | 305 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Black Cat Systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/301047032) | [Robert Sillett](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699114535) |

## What reviewers say

### Packet Pad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-pad/id385609173)

**Currently charting:** #191 Top Paid · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Decode and view packet radio transmissions directly on your mobile device. Listen to packet frequencies or connect your radio for enhanced audio quality. Save received text for later review or transfer it to your computer.

**Highlights:** View packet radio transmissions, Decode 1200 baud packet, Display raw APRS packets, Save received text, Transfer data to computer

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SWLog

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swlog/id6452913390)

Log amateur radio QSOs and broadcast transmissions on your mobile device. Supports QRZ lookups and various broadcast schedule queries for station identification. Features GPS integration and local log browsing, with the ability to upload to a main logging program.

**Highlights:** Log amateur radio QSOs, Log broadcast transmissions, QRZ lookups, Broadcast schedule lookups, GPS integration, Upload logs to main program

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Packet Pad free?

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

### Is SWLog free?

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

### Do Packet Pad or SWLog have ads?

Neither Packet Pad nor SWLog shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Packet Pad or SWLog?

Packet Pad ships an update every 13 months, and SWLog fortnightly. Most recently, Packet Pad was updated on October 17, 2026 and SWLog on October 9, 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.*