# Radio Messenger vs HamSat

The clearest difference is rating: Radio Messenger at 5.0 against HamSat's 4.5. Radio Messenger also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.4). HamSat's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Radio Messenger sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and HamSat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Radio Messenger holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Radio Messenger's written reviews are positive against 67% of HamSat's.

Radio Messenger ships an update every 3 weeks, HamSat every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Radio Messenger | HamSat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/radio-messenger/id6730110865/reviews)** | [4.5 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamsat-ham-satellite-tracker/id6762450814/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.6** | 26.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Island Magic Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529387252) | [Vasco Barreiros](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451715392) |

## What reviewers say

### Radio Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/radio-messenger/id6730110865)

Communicate off-grid using amateur radio frequencies. Send messages, files, photos, and locations without cellular service. Supports APRS and enhanced direct messaging modes.

**Highlights:** Off-grid messaging, APRS messaging, Enhanced messaging, Location sharing, Offline maps, File and image sharing, Identity verification

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Radio Messenger Plus Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Radio Messenger Plus Yearly | $14.99 | per year |


### HamSat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamsat-ham-satellite-tracker/id6762450814)

Track satellite passes with real-time azimuth, elevation, and Doppler-corrected frequencies. Features an Apple Watch companion for wrist-based aiming and pass tracking, and allows users to stamp photos with operational data.

**Highlights:** Apple Watch companion for pass tracking and antenna aiming, Live sky dome with real-time satellite arcs, Aim mode with phone compass and haptic feedback, Doppler-corrected frequencies for operating during passes, Photo stamping with callsign, grid, satellite, and UTC time, Offline satellite tracking and propagation, Geostationary satellite tracking

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HamSat Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Radio Messenger free?

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

### Is HamSat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Radio Messenger or HamSat?

Radio Messenger is rated higher. Radio Messenger averages 5.0 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while HamSat averages 4.5 from 6 ratings.

### Do Radio Messenger or HamSat have ads?

Neither Radio Messenger nor HamSat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Radio Messenger or HamSat?

Radio Messenger ships an update every 3 weeks, and HamSat every 2 days. Most recently, Radio Messenger was updated on November 4, 2026 and HamSat on October 31, 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.*