PacketMessage vs Retichat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PacketMessage
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.
- FX.25 forward error correction
- AX.25 bit-flip error correction
- Software TNC or KISS TNC interface support
- Direct RF message transmission
- Decentralized communication
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PacketMessage fully supports FX.25 forward error correction and AX.25 bit-flip error correction. Send reliable messages over software TNC or KISS TNC interfaces. Decentralized solution, messages travel directly over RF via your radio. PacketMessage is intended to be used by licensed amateur radio operators. A valid amateur radio license, assigned callsign, and a compatible radio are required to send and receive messages. This app does not function as a standalone messenger.
Retichat
This app provides end-to-end encrypted communication over decentralized networks. It supports store-and-forward propagation and federated nodes for lightweight push notifications. Future updates will include LoRa, group, and channel support.
- End-to-end forward encryption
- Decentralized and organization-less
- LXMF Store-and-Forward support
- RFed federated propagation
- Lightweight push notifications
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Reticulum LXMF chat client for iPhone Offers end-to-end forward encrypted communication over Reticulum networks Completely decentralized and organization-less Support for LXMF Store-and-Forward propagation Additional functionality using RFed federated propagation nodes Features lightweight push notification through a notify-only (no message data) relay RFed capability Soon to come: LoRa support Group support Channel support
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PacketMessage at 5.0 against Retichat's 3.2. Retichat's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. PacketMessage sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Retichat asks for nothing beyond the download.
PacketMessage holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retichat has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
PacketMessage ships an update weekly, Retichat every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PacketMessage | Retichat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 3.2 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 37.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Lukasz Skierkowski | New Endian LLC |
Customer experience
PacketMessage
Retichat
In-app purchases
PacketMessage
- Small Tip$1.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
- Large Tip$9.99
Retichat
No in-app purchases
