# ChatTCP vs PacketCircle

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PacketCircle at none against ChatTCP's 4. ChatTCP's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ChatTCP sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. PacketCircle asks for nothing beyond the download.

ChatTCP ships an update every 5 days, PacketCircle monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ChatTCP | PacketCircle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 29 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nanning Signalling Network Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1758343835) | [Walter Hofstetter](https://appshunter.io/developer/6795214327) |

## What reviewers say

### ChatTCP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chattcp-pcap-viewer-and-analyzr/id6560112653)

Easily view and analyze network packets, similar to reading chat logs. Supports TCP and UDP protocols with features for diagnostic analysis and data structure viewing. Decode application layer protocols and export HTTP files.

**Highlights:** View TCP/UDP packets like chat logs, Diagnostic analysis for issue pinpointing, Data Structure View for protocol mastery, Decode application layer protocols (HTTP, WebSocket, etc.), Export HTTP transmitted files, Includes pcap examples for beginners

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro+ | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro+ | $39.99 | per year |
| Pro | $49.99 | one-time |
| Pro+ | $89.99 | one-time |


### PacketCircle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packetcircle/id6795214325)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ChatTCP free?

ChatTCP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PacketCircle free?

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

### Do ChatTCP or PacketCircle have ads?

Neither ChatTCP nor PacketCircle shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ChatTCP or PacketCircle?

ChatTCP ships an update every 5 days, and PacketCircle monthly. Most recently, ChatTCP was updated on October 24, 2026 and PacketCircle on October 21, 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.*