Packet Commander vs CoronaSDR
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/
CoronaSDR
This application allows users to connect to and control RTL-SDR servers on their local network. It provides live spectrum and waterfall displays, various demodulation modes, and DSP controls for audio filtering and signal tuning. Users can save favorite stations and adjust RF settings.
- Live spectrum and waterfall display
- Multiple demodulation modes (AM, NFM, WFM, USB, LSB, CW)
- DSP controls (squelch, AGC, filters)
- Station favorites with import/export
- RF controls (PPM, tuner options)
- Diagnostics and performance pipeline
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CoronaSDR is an iOS app for listening to rtl_tcp SDR servers over your local network. Key features: - Live spectrum and waterfall rendering - Demodulation modes: AM, NFM, WFM, USB, LSB, CW - DSP controls: squelch, AGC, audio filters, de-emphasis - Station favorites with import/export - RF controls such as PPM and tuner options (hardware/server dependent) - Diagnostics and a performance-focused pipeline No account is required. Set your rtl_tcp host and port, connect, and tune. Built by Silviu YO6SAY for the radio community.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CoronaSDR at none against Packet Commander's 2. CoronaSDR also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). Packet Commander's advantage is ratings volume (48 vs 10). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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
Both are free to download. Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. CoronaSDR 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 CoronaSDR. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 48 and 10 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Packet Commander ships an update every 2 months, CoronaSDR every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Packet Commander | CoronaSDR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (48 ratings) | 5.0 (10 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 48 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Island Magic Co. | Alien Systems S.R.L. |
Customer experience
Packet Commander
CoronaSDR
In-app purchases
Packet Commander
- Yearly Subscription$8.991 Year
- One-Time Purchase$24.99
CoronaSDR
No in-app purchases









