Comparison

Retichat vs OpLine

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • End-to-end forward encryption
  • Decentralized and organization-less
  • LXMF Store-and-Forward support
  • RFed federated propagation
  • Lightweight push notifications
Features
Read full description

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

About

OpLine

This app provides licensed amateur radio operators with a fast, native iOS client for the AllStarLink network. It offers push-to-talk functionality, live net schedules, smart favorites, and real-time telemetry for a reliable mobile experience.

Highlights
  • Push to Talk (hold or toggle)
  • Live Net Schedule with alerts
  • Smart Favorites for nodes and nets
  • Real-Time Telemetry (RX/TX meters)
  • Worldwide AllStarLink node coverage
  • Native iOS design with dark mode
Features
Read full description

OpLine - AllStarLink in Your Pocket Connect to AllStarLink nodes anywhere your iPhone has signal. OpLine is a fast, native iOS client for licensed amateur radio operators who want a clean, reliable way to get on the network without desktop tools or generic SIP clients. KEY FEATURES Push to Talk Hold-to-talk or tap-to-toggle. Lock the mic when you need both hands free. Designed to feel like a real radio. Keyed Nodes See which nodes are transmitting across the network right now, busiest first, and tap to jump in. Live Net Schedule Browse upcoming nets, filter by region or favorites, and set reminders before they start. Smart Favorites Save your daily-driver nodes and the nets you actually attend. Real-Time Telemetry RX/TX meters, connection status, and who is linked to the node you are on. Bluetooth and Hands Free Bluetooth PTT handsets, mic selection, Lock Screen controls, widgets, Siri, and the Action Button. OPLINE PULSE (optional subscription) Pulse is the network, around the clock: a map of busy hubs, which hubs are talking right now, a push when a node you follow wakes up, how busy AllStar was over the last day or week, talk-time history for the hubs people follow, and the nets that really run, verified against what the network actually did. Pulse Monthly: $1.99 per month. Pulse Annual: $12.99 per year. New subscribers get the first week free. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and can be managed in your Apple Account settings. Everything else in OpLine is included in the one-time purchase and always will be. Bought OpLine before Pulse existed? Your first year of Pulse is free. It switches on by itself. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.opline.app/privacy REQUIREMENTS - A valid amateur radio license and call sign are required to transmit. - An AllStarLink node connection. Your own ASL3 Raspberry Pi node is recommended; see opline.app/setup for a free build guide. - Standard amateur radio rules apply: identify with your call sign and follow Part 97 or your country's equivalent. WHY OPLINE Most AllStarLink clients started as desktop tools and were retrofitted for mobile. OpLine was designed iPhone-first: instant connect, sub-second PTT response, clean telemetry, and a UI that respects your time. No ads. No account. The app is a one-time purchase; Pulse is optional. Built by a licensed ham who wanted a better way to get on the air from a phone. NEW TO HAM RADIO? Visit opline.app/license for a quick guide to getting your Technician license, the only license you need to use OpLine. 73, OpLine

Screenshots

Retichat2 screens
OpLine3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: OpLine at 100% against Retichat's 38%. OpLine also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.9) and chart position (#10 vs unranked). Retichat's advantage is price (Free vs $6.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Retichat is free to download; OpLine costs $6.99 up front. OpLine sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Retichat asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OpLine holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Retichat's written reviews are positive against 100% of OpLine's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Retichat ships an update every 3 days, OpLine weekly. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Retichat versus OpLine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRetichatOpLine
PriceFree — better$6.99
Rating2.9 (8 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#10 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB8 MB
Age rating17+9+
DeveloperNew Endian LLCJustin Calvert

Customer experience

Retichat

All ratings8 ratings
Positive37.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive38.5%
Neutral15.4%
Negative46.2%

OpLine

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Retichat

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

OpLine

Subscriptions2
  • OpLine Pulse Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • OpLine Pulse Annual7 Days trial$12.991 Year

Questions

Is Retichat free?
Retichat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OpLine free?
OpLine costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Retichat or OpLine?
OpLine is rated higher. Retichat averages 2.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while OpLine averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Retichat or OpLine have ads?
Neither Retichat nor OpLine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Retichat or OpLine?
Retichat ships an update every 3 days, and OpLine weekly. Most recently, Retichat was updated on November 9, 2026 and OpLine on November 9, 2026.

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