# aprs.fi vs TAK Aware

The clearest difference is price: TAK Aware at Free against aprs.fi's $6.99. TAK Aware also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (86% vs 70%). aprs.fi's advantage is ratings volume (1.2K vs 24) and chart position (#13 vs unranked). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

TAK Aware is free to download; aprs.fi costs $6.99 up front. aprs.fi sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. TAK Aware asks for nothing beyond the download.

TAK Aware holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: aprs.fi has 1.2K ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of aprs.fi's written reviews are positive against 86% of TAK Aware's.

aprs.fi ships an update fortnightly, TAK Aware every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | aprs.fi | TAK Aware |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $6.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aprsfi/id922155038/reviews) | **[4.8 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tak-aware/id6738631659/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 24 |
| Positive reviews | 70.4% of reviews | **85.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#13** | — |
| Size | 28 MB | 180 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GainIO](https://appshunter.io/developer/922155037) | [Flight Tactics, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1781317537) |

## What reviewers say

### aprs.fi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aprsfi/id922155038)

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Paid · Navigation, #169 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

Access real-time APRS position data, weather reports, and telemetry graphs globally. Offers route guidance, station tracking, and map filtering. Some advanced features require an in-app subscription.

**Highlights:** Real-time APRS position data, Route guidance and driving directions, Search callsigns and addresses, Track multiple stations, Filter map information, View weather and telemetry graphs, Beacon your position

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extra features, monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Extra features, yearly | $6.49 | per year |
| Extra features, fair trade | $13.49 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Solid product
- 👍 Works great with external hardware
- 💡 Useful for public service events
- 🚀 Reliable way to participate in APRS network
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Beaconing issues (inconsistent timing, lack of smart beaconing)
- 🔒 Messaging requires subscription
- 💰 Expensive for limited functionality
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Subscription required for full features

**Reported bugs**

- Beacon not clickable
- Freezing on settings screen
- Incompatible with older iOS versions
- Inconsistent behavior with VOX on radios

**Requested features**

- Offline maps support
- Ability to change nickname without creating new account
- Smart beaconing mode
- Bulk message deletion
- CarPlay support


### TAK Aware

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tak-aware/id6738631659)

This navigation app enhances situational awareness for tactical operations. It connects to TAK servers, supporting various data exchange methods for seamless integration into existing workflows.

**Highlights:** Situational awareness enhancement, Team Awareness Kit integration, Connects to TAK servers, Supports Data Packages and DataSync, Certificate Enrollment, Channels support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is aprs.fi free?

aprs.fi costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is TAK Aware free?

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

### Which has better reviews, aprs.fi or TAK Aware?

TAK Aware is rated higher. aprs.fi averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while TAK Aware averages 4.8 from 24 ratings.

### Do aprs.fi or TAK Aware have ads?

Neither aprs.fi nor TAK Aware shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, aprs.fi or TAK Aware?

aprs.fi ships an update fortnightly, and TAK Aware every 3 weeks. Most recently, aprs.fi was updated on October 24, 2026 and TAK Aware on October 24, 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.*