How much does a two-way radio cost for a business (vs. an app)?
The question “how much does a two-way radio cost for a business?” almost always comes with the wrong answer: the price of a handset. But the real math is the total cost of ownership (TCO) — everything you pay to keep the team talking, over several years.
The total cost of the radio (TCO)
A professional two-way radio is not a one-time purchase. Over its useful life, the operation pays for:
- Handsets (HT radios) — one per worker, plus spares.
- Repeater(s) and antennas — to extend range beyond line of sight.
- Spectrum license — authorization to operate on the frequency.
- Batteries and accessories — wear and periodic replacement.
- Maintenance — technical service, parts, adjustments.
- Replacement — loss, theft and breakage in the field are routine.
⚠️ The cost of handsets and infrastructure varies a lot by brand, power and region. Instead of nailing down a single number, build your own math with the real quotes you already have — and add up all the blocks above, not just the handset.
The invisible cost
There is a cost that doesn’t show up on the invoice: what the radio does not deliver.
- No history — there’s no record of what was said; in an audit or incident, the information is lost in the air.
- No location — you don’t know where the team is in real time.
- No worker safety — no SOS, fall detection (man-down) or emergency channel.
- No central management — configuring channels, groups and permissions is manual and fragmented.
How much does it cost not to have this? In security, logistics and retail, it usually costs more than all the hardware combined.
The per-user SaaS model
BiPTT swaps the investment in hardware for a per-user/month subscription. There’s no repeater, no license and no capex: the phone the team already has becomes a Push-to-Talk radio, using the mobile network (3G/4G/5G) or Wi-Fi.
Billing has two types of user — mobile (field operator) and manager (administrative, on the portal) — and includes the platform, app, portal, updates, support and hosting.
Comparing in 3 scenarios
To give an order of magnitude on the app side, here are three scenarios at the international price (US$ 8/user and US$ 80/manager; shown as an example, confirm the current terms at plans and pricing):
| Scenario | Team | Approx. monthly cost (app) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 20 mobile + 1 manager | ~ US$ 240/month |
| Medium | 100 mobile + 5 managers | ~ US$ 1,200/month |
| Large | 500 mobile + 15 managers | ~ US$ 5,200/month |
To complete the comparison, place your radio’s TCO alongside it: handsets + repeater + license + annual maintenance, divided by the same months. As a 2026 US market reference, the TCO of a professional radio runs around US$ 24 to 35 per radio/month (owned fleet, amortized over 3–5 years, before install and loss), while monthly rental typically lands around US$ 45 to 100 per radio (rental bundles maintenance). That’s where the “radio that’s already paid for” usually reveals the real cost.
Estimate yours
Every operation has a different number — the number of people, of sites, and the need (or not) for history, location and safety change the result. The honest way to decide is to build the math with your numbers.
Calculate your savings. To understand when the switch pays off (and when it doesn’t), also read Two-way radio vs. app: when to switch and the guide How much it costs to communicate with your field team.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a two-way radio cost for a business?
Beyond the price of the handset, you have to add up the repeater, spectrum license, batteries, maintenance and replacement. The total cost of ownership (TCO) over a few years is usually several times the price of the handset — which is why comparing just the radio's price with an app subscription distorts the math.
Is the per-user SaaS model cheaper?
In many operations, yes — because it eliminates the investment in hardware and infrastructure and spreads the cost out per user/month. The tipping point depends on the size of the team, the number of sites, and the need for history, location and safety.
How does BiPTT charge?
Per user/month, on an annual contract, with two types of user (mobile and manager). It includes the platform, app, portal, updates, support and hosting. It does not include hardware or connectivity. See the pricing page for current rates.