# RS vs Packet Commander

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Packet Commander at 100% against RS's 14%. Packet Commander also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (44 vs 3). RS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.2). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. RS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Packet Commander holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Packet Commander has 44 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of RS's written reviews are positive against 100% of Packet Commander's.

RS ships an update every 4 months, Packet Commander every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 2, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RS | Packet Commander |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rs-ms3i/id6670289770/reviews) | **[4.9 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-commander/id6743951365/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **44** |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 2 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ICOM INCORPORATED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1193842631) | [Island Magic Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529387252) |

## What reviewers say

### RS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rs-ms3i/id6670289770)

This app expands D-STAR transceiver capabilities over the internet using Terminal or Access Point modes. It allows communication even outside of repeater range by routing signals through your device via cellular or Wi-Fi networks.

**Highlights:** Terminal mode for internet-based transceiver communication, Access Point mode to function as a Wireless LAN access point, Expands D-STAR capabilities beyond repeater range, Utilizes internet, LTE, or 5G networks for signal transmission, Requires public IP address for gateway operation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Packet Commander

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-commander/id6743951365)

This app provides a classic terminal experience for packet radio communication on mobile devices. It offers powerful terminal features, smart connection management, and real-time over-the-air traffic monitoring. It's designed for amateur radio operators to connect with nodes, BBS, and decode traffic.

**Highlights:** Full-screen terminal for packet nodes and BBS, Classic color themes and adjustable layout, YAPP protocol support for file transfers, Location-aware digipeater routing, Seamless iCloud sync, Over-the-air traffic decoding, Auto-discovery of TNCs

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Subscription | $8.99 | per year |
| One-Time Purchase | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RS free?

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

### Is Packet Commander free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RS or Packet Commander?

Packet Commander is rated higher. RS averages 3.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Packet Commander averages 4.9 from 44 ratings.

### Do RS or Packet Commander have ads?

Neither RS nor Packet Commander shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RS or Packet Commander?

RS ships an update every 4 months, and Packet Commander every 2 months. Most recently, RS was updated on September 2, 2026 and Packet Commander on September 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.*