Comparison

Packet Commander vs setting.watch

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

setting.watch

This app helps watch enthusiasts set their timepieces accurately by providing clear displays for GMT, 24-hour time, moon phases, and DST. It also offers step-by-step guides for digital watches and allows tracking of mechanical watch accuracy over time. Users receive timely notifications for DST changes and end-of-month adjustments.

Highlights
  • Accurate watch setting
  • GMT and 24-hour time displays
  • Moonphase and DST tracking
  • Digital watch setting guides
  • Mechanical watch accuracy tracking
  • DST change notifications
Read full description

Hacking Seconds (setting.watch) is a quick reference app for watch enthusiasts. Set any watch accurately with clear displays for GMT, 24-hour time, moonphase, and DST transitions. Includes step-by-step setting guides for popular digital watches. Track your mechanical watches' accuracy over time and spot regulation drift. Interactive bezels and dials with haptic feedback let you spin dive bezels and adjust GMT complications just like the real thing. Get notified before DST changes and at the end of short months so your watches stay accurate. All data stays on your device. No tracking, no account required. Free. No ads.

Screenshots

Packet Commander4 screens
setting.watch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: setting.watch at none against Packet Commander's 2. setting.watch also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.2). Packet Commander's advantage is ratings volume (44 vs 3). On price, rating, update cadence 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. setting.watch asks for nothing beyond the download.

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 setting.watch. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Packet Commander has 44 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Packet Commander ships an update every 2 months, setting.watch every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Packet Commander versus setting.watch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPacket Commandersetting.watch
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (44 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings44 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.215.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIsland Magic Co.ChiComp

Customer experience

Packet Commander

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

setting.watch

All ratings3 ratings
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
None

setting.watch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Packet Commander free?
Packet Commander is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is setting.watch free?
setting.watch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Packet Commander or setting.watch?
setting.watch is rated higher. Packet Commander averages 4.9 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while setting.watch averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Packet Commander or setting.watch have ads?
Neither Packet Commander nor setting.watch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Packet Commander or setting.watch?
Packet Commander ships an update every 2 months, and setting.watch every 6 weeks. Most recently, Packet Commander was updated on September 21, 2026 and setting.watch on September 14, 2026.

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