RepeaterBook vs Hand Load
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RepeaterBook
Access a comprehensive, offline directory of amateur radio repeaters worldwide. Search by various criteria, view detailed information including distance and bearing, and easily submit updates. Optimized for both phones and tablets.
- Offline repeater directory
- Worldwide coverage
- Comprehensive search options
- Distance and bearing display
- Submit updates
- Portrait/Landscape views
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RepeaterBook Amateur Radio's most comprehensive, worldwide, FREE repeater directory. Powered by the popular community database of RepeaterBook.com Easily find repeaters across the world. • No network connection required. • Comprehensive search, selection and sorting. • Displays distance, heading and full repeater details. • Fast and flexible, to help you use repeaters. • Portrait or Landscape views for phone and tablets. • Easily submit updates/additions. Repeater List View Distance, bearing and details of the nearby repeaters. Current Locator/Grid/Lat Long/Town. Portrait or Landscape views for phone and tablets. Repeater Detail View Distance, bearing and details of the repeater. Portrait or Landscape views for phone and tablets. Submit an update if needed! Search No internet needed, fast and reliable. Results from your current or searched location. Results generated as you type. Search By • Town (Greater than 5k population) - portland • Town State - portland tn • USA ZIP Code - 90210 • Repeater Call - GB7SV • Repeater Frequency - 433.325 • Locator - Enter a 4 or 6 figure locator in search box and press search • Latitude Longitude - Enter Latitude Longitude (Locale specific decimal point) in search box and press search • Wildcard - * for "wildcard matches" *ford matches Bedford, Hertford Search Results • Selecting a town changes your location to show Repeaters near that town. • Selecting a repeater displays all the info on the repeater. Search History • 10 search examples are provided. • The last 10 searches are saved. Filter Distance Band Service Sort by Distance Frequency Band Tone Call Service Bearing Country Settings Location titles Locator (IO91VW) Lat Lon (52.6579 1.7160) Text (East) Short Text (E) Degrees (90°) Theme Light or Dark Distance Units (Miles or km) Menu App name version and build Current location and name Settings About Add repeater Feedback via Email Privacy Policy Supported Languages ca, cs_CZ da,de en, en_GB, en_US, en_AU, en_IE, en_ZA, en_NZ es, es_AR, es_CL fi, fr, fr_CA it_IT nb, no, nl pl, pt se, sv, sk RepeaterBook will always be free. 73 Garrett KD6KPC and Nicolas M1HOG Copyright 2011-2026 RepeaterBook.com & ZBM2.com Terms of Use (EULA):https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Hand Load
This app digitally logs firearm reloading recipes, component inventory, and range session data. It automatically calculates statistics like average velocity and group size, offering offline functionality and secure data storage. The app is designed for shooters to meticulously track their handloading process and performance.
- Record detailed reloading recipes
- Track component inventory
- Log range session data
- Automatic statistical calculations
- Offline functionality
- Secure, private data storage
- Imperial and metric unit support
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Every handloader has that notebook. Powder residue on the cover, a workup scrawled across two pages, chrono numbers you meant to move to a spreadsheet three range trips ago. Hand Load retires it: a bench-ready journal that keeps every recipe, every component, and every shot in one place you can actually search. Built for shooters who already know their way around a press — precision rifle competitors working through a ladder, pistol shooters chasing a node, hunters tuning a load before opening day. No ads, no accounts, and nobody watching over your shoulder. RECIPES Record every variable that matters, the way you would on a good data sheet: • Bullet, powder, primer, brass, charge weight, and COAL • Powder measure setting, so a proven throw is easy to return to • Die settings, including shoulder bump, neck bushing, and CBTO • Case preparation: trim-to length, amount trimmed, and times fired at trimming COMPONENT INVENTORY • Track powders, primers, bullets, and brass on hand • Know what's on the shelf before you plan the next session at the press EQUIPMENT • Firearms, with barrel length and twist rate • Presses and dies, tied to the recipes that use them RANGE SESSIONS • Shot-by-shot velocity for every string • Group size and weather conditions • A five-step impression rating per string, so your notes still mean something six months later STATISTICS • Average velocity, SD, ES, and MOA computed automatically for every string • Results aggregated per recipe — see how a load performs over its whole history, not just its best day • No more averaging strings by hand on the tailgate BUILT FOR THE BENCH • Rapid entry keypad mode for logging fast between strings • Voice dictation for hands-free velocity entry — read the chronograph, say the number, keep shooting • Imperial and metric units, one toggle • Fully offline — no cell signal required at the range YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS • No accounts, no sign-up screen, no ads, no analytics, no third-party SDKs • Optional iCloud sync stores your journal in your private database; the developer never sees your data • Edit your saved entries, clear optional values, and delete records in the app • Your load book is nobody's business but yours A JOURNAL, NOT A LOAD MANUAL Hand Load is a record-keeping tool. It does not contain load data and will never suggest or recommend a charge weight or any other load parameter. Always verify every load against current published data from your powder and bullet manufacturers before loading or firing, and follow established handloading practices. ONE PURCHASE, NO SUBSCRIPTION Start free. Unlock the full app with Hand Load Unlimited, a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees. Tools you buy once and own, like everything else on your bench. Requires iOS 17 or later. Works on iPhone and iPad.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Hand Load at 5.0 against RepeaterBook's 4.2. Hand Load also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%). RepeaterBook's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (246 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. RepeaterBook sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $14.99 per year and Hand Load sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Hand Load holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RepeaterBook has 246 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of RepeaterBook's written reviews are positive against 100% of Hand Load's.
RepeaterBook ships an update every 3 weeks, Hand Load every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RepeaterBook | Hand Load |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (246 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 67.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 246 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nicolas Associates Ltd | AdaptaFit |
Customer experience
RepeaterBook
Hand Load
Bugs and requests
RepeaterBook
Reported bugs
11 issues- Location services showing repeaters hundreds of miles away
- App not displaying any repeaters despite correct filters
- iOS version showing incorrect frequency data
- Recent update losing user data and settings
- Location feature not finding nearby repeaters
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- iPad compatibility issues with latest version
- 2-meter repeaters not showing in filtered results
- Repeater information not loading properly
- App crashes or becomes unresponsive
- Website login issues not addressed in app
- Feedback submission disabled in application
Requested features
16 requests- Map display of repeater locations
- Field name labels for repeater details
- Coverage range information for repeaters
- GMRS channel display alongside frequency
- Dark mode support
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- Ability to edit user location manually
- Link to full website listings from app
- Better DMR repeater information
- Club repeater highlighting
- APRS filter option
- Wires-X filter option
- Copy and paste functionality
- Watch interface support
- Ability to add custom repeaters
- Offline map support
- Call sign validation for international prefixes
Hand Load
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
RepeaterBook
- Unlimited Access3 Days trial$14.991 Year
Hand Load
- Unlock Unlimited Access$7.99






