# PacketMessage vs bushwhackr

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: bushwhackr at none against PacketMessage's 3. PacketMessage's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PacketMessage sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. bushwhackr asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PacketMessage against 5.0 for bushwhackr. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

PacketMessage ships an update weekly, bushwhackr fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PacketMessage | bushwhackr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packetmessage/id6758742785/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bushwhackr/id6759293818/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 1 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Lukasz Skierkowski](https://appshunter.io/developer/1280847319) | [Shawn-Patrick Bland](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867892790) |

## What reviewers say

### PacketMessage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packetmessage/id6758742785)

This app enables licensed amateur radio operators to send reliable messages directly over RF using their radio and a compatible TNC interface. It leverages advanced error correction protocols for robust communication in a decentralized network.

**Highlights:** FX.25 forward error correction, AX.25 bit-flip error correction, Software TNC or KISS TNC interface support, Direct RF message transmission, Decentralized communication

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


### bushwhackr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bushwhackr/id6759293818)

Connect with fellow outdoor enthusiasts, track your adventures, and share your wilderness skills. Discover new trails, review gear, find local events, and build your knowledge of the wild.

**Highlights:** Trail tracking and community trails, Social feed for photos, videos, and notes, Gear reviews and recommendations, Event discovery and creation, Customizable packout builder, Plant and field guide

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PacketMessage free?

PacketMessage is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is bushwhackr free?

bushwhackr is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PacketMessage or bushwhackr?

PacketMessage and bushwhackr are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do PacketMessage or bushwhackr have ads?

Neither PacketMessage nor bushwhackr shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PacketMessage or bushwhackr?

PacketMessage ships an update weekly, and bushwhackr fortnightly. Most recently, PacketMessage was updated on October 14, 2026 and bushwhackr on October 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*