Phone walkie-talkie or PMR446 radios?
Licence-free PMR446 radios are the classic choice for a group: no network needed, almost no delay. SpeakMic turns the phones your group already has into walkie-talkies — with no hardware and no range limit where there's internet.
Side by side
| Feature | SpeakMic | PMR446 radios |
|---|---|---|
| No hardware to buy or charge | Yes | No |
| Licence-free | Yes | Yes |
| Range | Yesanywhere with internet | Partlya few hundred m in town, a few km in open country |
| Works without any network | PartlySpeakMic Offline, Android, ~250–350 m | Yes |
| Only your group can listen | Yesprivate link, optional PIN | Noshared public channels |
| Private one-to-one calls | Yes | No |
| Text chat alongside | Yes | No |
| Practically no delay | Partlytypically 100–500 ms | Yes |
| Battery independent of your phone | No | Yes |
Comparison as of October 2026, based on publicly available information. Features of other products change — check their current terms.
Sources: Wikipedia — PMR446 · OFCOM (CH) — PMR446
Where the app is the better fit
Distance and buildings
Across a city, between floors or between two sites — the app reaches anywhere with internet, radios only within their radio range.
A private channel
PMR446 channels are shared and anyone nearby on the same channel can listen. A SpeakMic room is reachable only through its link (and PIN).
Groups that change
No radios to buy, charge, hand out and collect — new people join with a link or QR code.
Where radios are the better fit
No network at all, for everyone
A radio works anywhere, on any phone or none; SpeakMic Offline works without a network too, but only between Android phones and over a shorter range.
Split-second cues and long shifts
Radios have practically no delay and their batteries last through long shifts without draining anyone's phone.
Frequently asked questions
Is a walkie-talkie app as fast as a radio?
Almost — SpeakMic's delay is typically 100–500 ms. That's fine for coordination, but a radio is still quicker for split-second cues.
Can other people hear our PMR446 conversation?
Yes, anyone tuned to the same PMR446 channel nearby can. A SpeakMic room can only be joined with its link and, if set, its PIN.
What range do PMR446 radios have?
With 0.5 W, typically a few hundred metres in town and a few kilometres in open country, more from high ground. SpeakMic reaches anywhere with internet; SpeakMic Offline about 250–350 m with phones relaying for each other.
Built for real situations
Walkie-talkie
Ideal for festivals, volunteer teams, and event crews — push to talk and your whole team hears you, no radios required.
Learn more→Hiking groups
Mountains, caves, forests without signal — the group stays in touch phone to phone, with no internet.
Learn more→Film & production crews
A channel per department for small shoots and event production — on the crew's phones, with no radio kit to rent.
Learn more→SpeakMic vs Zello
Push-to-talk in the browser with no app or account — and where Zello's native apps still win.
See the comparison→vs tour guide systems
Guests' own phones instead of rented receivers — and when a rental system is still the right call.
See the comparison→All comparisons
Zello, radios, tour guide systems, interpretation platforms, Zoom and WhatsApp side by side.
See the comparison→Try the app before you buy radios
Create a free walkie-talkie room and test it with your group.
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