Comparison

RepeaterBook vs Hand Load

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Offline repeater directory
  • Worldwide coverage
  • Comprehensive search options
  • Distance and bearing display
  • Submit updates
  • Portrait/Landscape views
Features
Read full description

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/

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

RepeaterBook4 screens
Hand Load4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
RepeaterBook versus Hand Load: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRepeaterBookHand Load
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (246 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings246 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNicolas Associates LtdAdaptaFit

Customer experience

RepeaterBook

All ratings246 ratings
Positive78.5%
Neutral7.3%
Negative14.2%
Written reviews104 reviews
Positive67.3%
Neutral11.5%
Negative21.2%

Hand Load

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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
Show 6 more
  • 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
Show 11 more
  • 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

1 purchases

RepeaterBook

Subscriptions1
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$14.991 Year
1 purchases

Hand Load

One-time1
  • Unlock Unlimited Access$7.99

Questions

Is RepeaterBook free?
RepeaterBook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hand Load free?
Hand Load is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RepeaterBook or Hand Load?
Hand Load is rated higher. RepeaterBook averages 4.2 out of 5 from 246 ratings, while Hand Load averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do RepeaterBook or Hand Load have ads?
Neither RepeaterBook nor Hand Load shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RepeaterBook or Hand Load?
RepeaterBook ships an update every 3 weeks, and Hand Load every 2 months. Most recently, RepeaterBook was updated on October 15, 2026 and Hand Load on October 2, 2026.

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