Comparison

Packet Commander vs Pilot Medical Tracker

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

Head to head
About

Packet Commander

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
Read full description

Packet Commander brings a classic terminal experience for packet radio to your iPhone or iPad. Try it free. The download includes 5 full connection sessions so you can explore the features and confirm compatibility before purchasing. After that, a purchase is required to continue connecting. Note: An amateur radio license is required to operate on the air. Powerful Terminal • Full-screen terminal for interacting with packet nodes and BBS over amateur radio • Classic color themes inspired by iconic computers • Adjustable fonts and layout for readability and screen efficiency • YAPP protocol support for file transfers • Dictation-ready for composing messages hands-free • Smart filename selection — double tap to highlight and copy Smarter Packet Connections • Location-aware digipeater routing: automatically recalls the last-used path at each location • Seamless iCloud sync for nodes and digipeaters across all your devices • Compatible with popular packet node software including BPQ32, URONode, and others Over-the-Air Monitor Connect to your radio and decode over-the-air traffic in real time. AX.25 frames are decoded and presented in an easy-to-read format. • Filter traffic to display exactly what you’re looking for • Search by address or content • Export the log to a file for later analysis Works with the Gear You Love • Auto-discovery of Bluetooth and TCP TNCs, including Dire Wolf on DigiPi • Automatic frequency set/restore on supported radios • Built-in, high-performance 1200 baud AFSK software modem • Optimized for VHF/UHF packet at both 1200 and 9600 baud Compatible with the Following Radios and TNCs: Radios with Built-in TNCs (Auto-sets and restores frequency on those radios) · BTECH UV-PRO, UV-50PRO · VERO VR-N76, VR-N7600 · RADIODITY GA-5WB, DB50-B · Kenwood TH-D74*, TH-D75* · PicoAPRS V4 *Requires B.B. Link Bluetooth adapter Portable KISS TNCs · Mobilinkd TNC3, TNC4 · LiNK500 TNC · DigiPi · Dire Wolf Software TNC Audio Interfaces (Using built-in software modem) · Digirig Lite · Digirig VOX PTT Cable · AIOC (All-In-One Cable) Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Pilot Medical Tracker

Effortlessly manage aviation medical requirements to stay current and compliant. Track appointments, medications, and store important documents securely. This app simplifies medical certificate management for pilots, ensuring you never miss a deadline.

Highlights
  • AME & Doctor Visit Tracking
  • Smart Reminders & Notifications
  • FAA Medication Checker
  • Secure Document Storage
  • Medication & Visit Log
  • Export & Share Medical History
Read full description

Full access to all features requires an auto-renewable subscription. There is no free tier or limited access upon download—this app provides complete functionality only with an active subscription. With your subscription, the Pilot Medical Tracker helps pilots stay current, legal, and in the skies with effortless tracking of aviation medical requirements. Never miss an AME visit, doctor appointment, or medication review again. Built specifically for pilots, this simple, secure app handles everything you need to manage your medical certificate and stay FAA-compliant without spreadsheets or forgotten reminders. Key features (all unlocked with subscription): • AME & Doctor Visit Tracking Log past and upcoming Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) exams, flight physicals, and doctor visits. View your full history timeline at a glance. • Smart Reminders & Notifications Get timely push reminders for AME renewals, follow-up appointments, medication reviews, and document expirations—so you stay ahead of deadlines and never risk a lapse. • FAA Medication Checker Quickly check common medications against FAA aeromedical guidelines. See status indicators based on current FAA resources. Always verify with your AME or official sources—this is a helpful reference tool, not official FAA advice. • Unlimited Secure Document Storage Store unlimited PDFs, images, and scans: medical certificates, FAA letters, doctor's notes, prescriptions, and more. Encrypted, offline access, and easy organization by category or date. • Medication & Visit Log Record medications with dosage, start/end dates, prescribing doctor, and notes. Track how long you've been on each med and any side effects—perfect for AME discussions. • Clean, Pilot-Focused Design Minimalist interface optimized for quick checks on the ramp or in the cockpit. • Export & Share Easily export your full medical history, visit logs, or documents as PDF for your AME, insurance, or personal records. Why pilots love it: Aviation medical compliance shouldn't be stressful. Pilot Medical Tracker replaces scattered notes, calendar alerts, and manual checklists with one reliable place to keep your medical current—so you can focus on flying. Important notes: This app is not a substitute for professional medical advice or official FAA guidance. Always consult your Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) and refer to current FAA resources (faa.gov) for final decisions on medications and certification. The medication reference is for informational purposes only and is not an official FAA endorsement. Stay legal, stay safe, stay flying. TERMS, PRIVACY & CONDITIONS https://pilotametoolkit.com/terms & https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Packet Commander4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Packet Commander at free with in-app purchases against Pilot Medical Tracker's subscription. Packet Commander also leads on ratings volume (44 vs 1) and device support. Pilot Medical Tracker's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.2). On price, rating and in-app purchases 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. Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year and Pilot Medical Tracker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Packet Commander against 5.0 for Pilot Medical Tracker. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Packet Commander has 44 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Packet Commander versus Pilot Medical Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPacket CommanderPilot Medical Tracker
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (44 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings44 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNo—
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad — better—
Requires iOS18.215.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIsland Magic Co.Dustin Benker

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Packet Commander

Subscriptions1
  • Yearly Subscription$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • One-Time Purchase$24.99
2 purchases

Pilot Medical Tracker

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Annual$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Packet Commander free?
Packet Commander is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pilot Medical Tracker free?
Pilot Medical Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Packet Commander or Pilot Medical Tracker?
Pilot Medical Tracker is rated higher. Packet Commander averages 4.9 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while Pilot Medical Tracker averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

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