# aprs.fi vs APRSSwift

The clearest difference is price: APRSSwift at Free against aprs.fi's $6.99. APRSSwift also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (100% vs 70%). aprs.fi's advantage is ratings volume (1.1K vs 2) and chart position (#21 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

APRSSwift holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: aprs.fi has 1.1K ratings behind it against 2, 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 100% of APRSSwift's.

aprs.fi ships an update fortnightly, APRSSwift every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | aprs.fi | APRSSwift |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $6.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aprsfi/id922155038/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aprsswift/id6791003285/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 70.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 28 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GainIO](https://appshunter.io/developer/922155037) | [Sevket Bugra CANATA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1819329564) |

## What reviewers say

### aprs.fi

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

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Paid · 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


### APRSSwift

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aprsswift/id6791003285)

Track and message on the APRS network with your amateur radio callsign. View nearby stations on a live map, exchange text messages, and decode various packet types. Supports multiple connection methods and includes an Apple Watch app.

**Highlights:** Live APRS map with station tracking, Two-way APRS messaging, Full packet decoding, Multiple connection methods, Apple Watch app integration, SmartBeaconing for adaptive beaconing

**Features:** Apple Watch app, 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 APRSSwift free?

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

### Which has better reviews, aprs.fi or APRSSwift?

APRSSwift is rated higher. aprs.fi averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while APRSSwift averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do aprs.fi or APRSSwift have ads?

Neither aprs.fi nor APRSSwift shows ads.

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

aprs.fi ships an update fortnightly, and APRSSwift every 4 days. Most recently, aprs.fi was updated on September 30, 2026 and APRSSwift on September 22, 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.*