Comparison

Packet Commander vs Konsol

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

Konsol

This app provides a comprehensive suite of network tools for IT professionals. It offers remote access via SSH, Telnet, and SFTP, along with diagnostic and monitoring features like ping, traceroute, and SNMP polling. Advanced device management capabilities include configuration backups and custom quick commands.

Highlights
  • SSH terminal with key authentication
  • Telnet client
  • SFTP file transfer
  • Ping and traceroute
  • Port scanner
  • SNMP polling
  • Configuration backup and diff
Features
Read full description

The switch stopped answering. You can't SSH to it — that's the problem. Konsol reaches it down a console cable instead, from the phone already in your pocket. Then it stays useful for everything else: SSH, Telnet, SFTP, and 28 network tools that don't need a laptop. EVERY WAY INTO A DEVICE • Serial console over a USB-C cable — the way in when the network is what's broken • Wireless console adapters, so the cable can stay in the rack • SSH with password or key auth — RSA, ED25519, ECDSA, plus jump hosts • Telnet, for the old kit that still only speaks it • SFTP, with a real file browser Older gear that modern SSH clients refuse to talk to will usually still negotiate here. 28 TOOLS, NOT 28 APPS Ping · Network Scanner · Device Discovery · Port Checker · Traceroute · Path Monitor · DNS Lookup · IP Calculator · Speed Test · Public IP Lookup SNMP Monitor · SNMP Trap Receiver · Syslog Receiver · TFTP Server · Bonjour Browser · BLE Scanner Command Reference · Port Reference · Wire Colors · Crimp Guide · MAC Vendor Lookup · Notable IPs & MACs · Code Snippets · Network Notes · Passwords Session Logs · Macros · Recordings The scanner sweeps a subnet and reports what answered and on which ports. Path Monitor keeps watching a route, so the fault that happens twice an hour has somewhere to show up. The reference tools need no signal at all. A TERMINAL THAT BEHAVES LIKE ONE • Line mode for typing on a phone; raw mode for vim, nano and anything drawing its own screen • Full ANSI colour, with highlight rules so "down" catches your eye as it scrolls past • Quick buttons for the commands you send constantly, with per-vendor templates • Macros for the lines you type every time you turn up a port • Several sessions at once, and broadcast to send one line to all of them • Session recording, played back at original timing • 27 terminal colour schemes and 51 app themes CONFIGS YOU CAN GO BACK TO Pull a running config over SSH and keep it. Compare any two and see exactly what changed — the answer to "it worked on Tuesday". Backups are plain text, readable without this app, by anyone. SYNCED FOLDERS A folder of firmware images, configs and notes that stays in step across your devices. Each folder has its own key, so you can share one with a colleague without handing over anything else. Everything on the share is encrypted before it leaves the device. Filenames and contents are never visible to the server. Deletions are never applied behind your back: when another device deletes something, this one asks first, and keeps asking until you answer. Add photos from your library, converted so every machine opens them. Put the share on a NAS, an SFTP server, or Konsol Cloud. SYNC, YOUR WAY One setting says where your data syncs: Apple iCloud, Konsol Sync, or nowhere. Konsol Sync needs no account — the sync password is the identity; set the same one on each device and they find each other. Everything is encrypted before it leaves, and Sync settings list every device sharing your data — strangers get flagged. FREE, AND PRO Free covers three saved connections, one session at a time, and most of the reference tools. Pro lifts the limits and unlocks the heavier tools — scanner, SNMP, syslog, config backup, recording, macros and the rest. One subscription covers all your devices on the same account. Work you already have keeps working if a subscription lapses. Konsol Pro is an auto-renewing subscription: $4.99 per month or $34.99 per year. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage your subscription, or turn off auto-renew, in Account Settings after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://runaboutdigital.com/konsol/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Packet Commander4 screens
Konsol4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Konsol at weekly against Packet Commander's every 2 months. Packet Commander's advantage is ratings volume (48 vs 3). 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

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 Konsol sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 Konsol. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Packet Commander has 48 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Packet Commander ships an update every 2 months, Konsol weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Packet Commander versus Konsol: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPacket CommanderKonsol
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (48 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings48 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.217.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIsland Magic Co.Curtis Waldner

Customer experience

Packet Commander

All ratings44 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Konsol

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Packet Commander

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

Konsol

Subscriptions2
  • Konsol Pro Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Konsol Pro Annually7 Days trial$34.991 Year

Questions

Is Packet Commander free?
Packet Commander is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Konsol free?
Konsol is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Packet Commander or Konsol?
Konsol is rated higher. Packet Commander averages 4.9 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while Konsol averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Packet Commander or Konsol have ads?
Neither Packet Commander nor Konsol shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Packet Commander or Konsol?
Packet Commander ships an update every 2 months, and Konsol weekly. Most recently, Packet Commander was updated on November 4, 2026 and Konsol on October 31, 2026.

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