Comparison

GPS 2 IP vs aprs.fi

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

GPS 2 IP

Stream real-time GPS NMEA location data from your iPhone or iPad to other devices. Ideal for advanced navigation software and enthusiasts who need external GPS capabilities.

Highlights
  • Stream NMEA GPS data wirelessly
  • Connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth LE
  • Push data to online servers (TCP/UDP)
  • Supports TAIP protocol
  • Unique device identifiers
  • Automatic restart after device reboot
  • Selectable NMEA messages
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Do you need GPS NMEA location data for your computer or other device - maybe to use some mapping or navigation software? Until now, you couldn't get external access to the GPS inside your iPhone or iPad, but now with GPS2IP you can stream the information in realtime to solve your requirements. BEWARE - GPS2IP is *not* able to be used for the Apple turn-by-turn navigation app, or Google Maps, or most car navigation programs. It is designed for enthusiasts, or more sophisticated navigation software that can use an external wireless GPS unit. If you aren't sure what NMEA is, please check the website before buying. This is a rather special piece of software, and must be used in the right system. PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE: www.capsicumdreams.com/iPhone/gps2ip/ We have a free version "GPS2IP Lite" that has most of the same features, so that you can try it out for free. Have a look on our website: http://capsicumdreams.com/gps2ip/differences.php Try it for free, and only buy this full-featured version if it does what you need! The iPhone becomes a GPS server, and to get the information, you just connect to your iPhone using either wifi or Bluetooth LE. Alternatively, you can also push the NMEA data to any online server, using either TCP or UDP and process the information however you want.The TAIP protocol is also supported. Each device running GPS2IP can send a unique identifier, so that if you have multiple devices you can determine which device is sending what messages. GPS2IP now can be configured to restart automatically after your iOS device restarts, so you'll always keep track of your position. Apart from navigation software, other methods for connection include telnet or netcat, or many terminal programs. Some navigation software such as MacEnc can read from an IP address natively. Setting up a connection between MacEnc and GPS2IP is easy. Just have a look at the capsicumDreams website! http://capsicumdreams.com/gps2ip/ Different NMEA messages can be selected for transmission according to your requirements. One non-standard message that GPS2IP transmits that is very useful for sailing is $PASHR. GPS 2 IP can run when the iPhone sleeps to support constant location reporting, but be aware that continued use of the GPS when running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. If your device dies or you turn it off when it was running, GPS2IP now automatically resumes sending the location. Beware that this will decrease battery life - we recommend keeping it charging if possible. GPS2IP can also be configured to output data at a selectable frequency (for example once every minute). You can lock the settings, so that no unauthorised people can change the settings. Lots more information and instructions on usage can be found on our website. Enjoy!

About

aprs.fi

Access real-time APRS position data, weather reports, and telemetry graphs globally. Offers route guidance, station tracking, and map filtering. Some advanced features require an in-app subscription.

Highlights
  • Real-time APRS position data
  • Route guidance and driving directions
  • Search callsigns and addresses
  • Track multiple stations
  • Filter map information
  • View weather and telemetry graphs
  • Beacon your position
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

An additional in-app subscription is needed for some features, so please read this application description fully before purchasing. Navigate to addresses with clear step-by-step instructions. Obtain immediate, real-time access to current APRS position information, weather reports, telemetry graphs, and more. Zoom and browse around the world and see stations immediately – no waiting. • Route guidance / driving directions • Search callsigns and addresses, with quick search-as-you-type and search history features • Track multiple stations at the same time • Filter information shown on the map (weather stations, AIS, custom filters) • View weather, telemetry and statistic graphs • Beacon your position on aprs.fi • Attach to a transceiver with a wireless connection to a BLE TNC, receive and transmit position beacons without the Internet • Runs directly on top of the reliable and fast aprs.fi database • Tested to work great on all currently-supported iPhone and iPad models • Supports iOS 14/15/16/17/18/26 • Dark Mode support for an ergonomic viewing experience in low-light environments • High-resolution graphics for Retina and Retina HD displays with full APRS symbol set Buy the app – get the web site for free! Some new features require a subscription. All old and some new features will be available without a subscription fee. These features are currently included in the Extra Features subscription package: • APRS text messaging with a modern instant messenger-like experience, supports international text and emojis • High-performance software DSP modem • APRS-IS beaconing, with up to 10 callsign profiles • Offline maps • RX iGate functionality • Long time ranges in map and graph views Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. GPS is not required for viewing APRS information. Terms of service: https://aprs.fi/page/app_terms Privacy policy: https://aprs.fi/page/app_privacy

Screenshots

GPS 2 IP4 screens
aprs.fi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GPS 2 IP at none against aprs.fi's 3. aprs.fi's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On ads, chart position, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

GPS 2 IP costs $7.99 and aprs.fi $6.99 up front. aprs.fi sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. GPS 2 IP asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

aprs.fi holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: aprs.fi has 1.2K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of GPS 2 IP's written reviews are positive against 70% of aprs.fi's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GPS 2 IP ships an update every 3 months, aprs.fi fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
GPS 2 IP versus aprs.fi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGPS 2 IPaprs.fi
Price$7.99$6.99 — better
Rating4.2 (15 ratings)4.7 (1.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews58.3% of reviews70.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings151.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#29#19 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAngus OliverGainIO

Customer experience

GPS 2 IP

All ratings15 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews60 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral1.7%
Negative40.0%

aprs.fi

All ratings1,133 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.2%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews223 reviews
Positive70.4%
Neutral11.2%
Negative18.4%

Bugs and requests

GPS 2 IP

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

aprs.fi

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Beacon not clickable
  • Freezing on settings screen
  • Incompatible with older iOS versions
  • Inconsistent behavior with VOX on radios

Requested features

6 requests
  • Offline maps support
  • Ability to change nickname without creating new account
  • Smart beaconing mode
  • Bulk message deletion
  • CarPlay support
Show 1 more
  • Automatic location detection

In-app purchases

None

GPS 2 IP

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

aprs.fi

Subscriptions3
  • Extra features, monthly$1.991 Month
  • Extra features, yearly7 Days trial$6.491 Year
  • Extra features, fair trade7 Days trial$13.491 Year

Questions

Is GPS 2 IP free?
GPS 2 IP costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is aprs.fi free?
aprs.fi costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GPS 2 IP or aprs.fi?
aprs.fi is rated higher. GPS 2 IP averages 4.2 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while aprs.fi averages 4.7 from 1.2K ratings.
Do GPS 2 IP or aprs.fi have ads?
Neither GPS 2 IP nor aprs.fi shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GPS 2 IP or aprs.fi?
GPS 2 IP ships an update every 3 months, and aprs.fi fortnightly. Most recently, GPS 2 IP was updated on October 21, 2026 and aprs.fi on October 20, 2026.
Which is more popular, GPS 2 IP or aprs.fi?
GPS 2 IP currently peaks at #29 in the App Store charts, and aprs.fi at #19. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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