Goguma IRC vs PacketMessage
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Goguma IRC
This mobile application provides a modern IRC client experience, supporting numerous IRCv3 extensions and IRC bouncers. It's designed for offline use, allowing access to past conversations without a connection and handling network disruptions seamlessly.
- Modern IRC client
- IRCv3 extensions support
- IRC bouncer support
- Offline-first design
- Read past conversations offline
- Transparent network disruption handling
Read full descriptionHide full description
Goguma is an IRC client for mobile devices. It offers a modern IRC experience with support for many IRCv3 extensions and IRC bouncers. Designed as an offline-first app, you can read past conversations even when there is no cellular connection in sight. Network disruptions are also handled transparently. Goguma source code is available publicly and for free on Codeberg.
PacketMessage
This app enables licensed amateur radio operators to send reliable messages directly over RF using their radio and a compatible TNC interface. It leverages advanced error correction protocols for robust communication in a decentralized network.
- FX.25 forward error correction
- AX.25 bit-flip error correction
- Software TNC or KISS TNC interface support
- Direct RF message transmission
- Decentralized communication
Read full descriptionHide full description
PacketMessage fully supports FX.25 forward error correction and AX.25 bit-flip error correction. Send reliable messages over software TNC or KISS TNC interfaces. Decentralized solution, messages travel directly over RF via your radio. PacketMessage is intended to be used by licensed amateur radio operators. A valid amateur radio license, assigned callsign, and a compatible radio are required to send and receive messages. This app does not function as a standalone messenger.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: PacketMessage at Free against Goguma IRC's $0.99. PacketMessage also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.6) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months). Goguma IRC's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (10 vs 1). On ads 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
PacketMessage is free to download; Goguma IRC costs $0.99 up front. PacketMessage sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Goguma IRC asks for nothing beyond the download.
PacketMessage holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Goguma IRC has 10 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Goguma IRC ships an update every 6 months, PacketMessage weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Goguma IRC | PacketMessage |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.6 (10 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 10 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #28 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jean THOMAS | Lukasz Skierkowski |
Customer experience
Goguma IRC
PacketMessage
In-app purchases
Goguma IRC
No in-app purchases
PacketMessage
- Small Tip$1.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
- Large Tip$9.99
