Packet Commander vs GridCalc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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/
GridCalc
This calculator app uses a grid interface to visualize every step of your calculations. It combines Reverse Polish Notation with a structured grid, allowing you to reference previous cells and see immediate recalculations when inputs change. Ideal for detailed, ad-hoc modeling on mobile.
- Visible grid for calculations
- Reverse Polish Notation (RPN)
- Incremental number entry
- Reference prior cells
- Immediate recalculation on input change
- Structured problem solving
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GridCalc is a new kind of calculator for iOS. It combines Reverse Polish Notation with a visible grid so every step of your work is structured and reviewable. Instead of a hidden stack or opaque formula bar, each value and operation lives directly in the grid. Enter numbers incrementally. Apply operations. Reference prior cells. Change any upstream input at any time and see immediate recalculation. GridCalc is built for people who think in steps and care about clarity: • Engineers and developers working through exact calculations • Finance and trading professionals modeling scenarios on the go • Students learning RPN and structured problem solving • Anyone who wants spreadsheet-level visibility without spreadsheet friction Designed for fast, ad-hoc modeling on mobile, GridCalc keeps your work visible, precise, and easy to continue later.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Packet Commander at Free against GridCalc's $14.99. Packet Commander also leads on ratings volume (44 vs 2). GridCalc's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). On rating, review sentiment, 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
Packet Commander is free to download; GridCalc costs $14.99 up front. Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. GridCalc asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Packet Commander against 5.0 for GridCalc. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Packet Commander has 44 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Packet Commander ships an update every 2 months, GridCalc every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Packet Commander | GridCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (44 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 44 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Island Magic Co. | ALAN WILLIAM DIPERT |
Customer experience
Packet Commander
GridCalc
In-app purchases
Packet Commander
- Yearly Subscription$8.991 Year
- One-Time Purchase$24.99
GridCalc
No in-app purchases









