FRS radios are cheap, lightweight, and have batteries that last all day, but are mostly appropriate for very short ranges- say, a single residential building, or for a technician on the top of a scissor lift to make sure the technician on the ground feeds out cables correctly. FRS radio two packs are widely available and are usually priced less than $30. FRS radios do not require a license, and are limited to 0.5 watts of power. They may not have detachable antennas or interchangeable parts (such as microphones or headsets), making it difficult to purchase accessories or extend the range of the radio.
MURS radios, also known as ‘business radios’, are more versatile, longer range, often ruggedized, and significantly more expensive. They output 2 watts of power, offer interchangeable accessories, and do not require a license. MURS radios can connect to external or exterior antennas, including vehicle mounted and building mounted ones. MURS radios are ideal for large but fixed operations, so you’ll see retail and hospitality operations use them. MURS radios are usually about $200 new, and about $100 used. MURS radios last for a long time, and so used radios in good condition can often be found on eBay and the like.
GMRS radios require an FCC license (but not a test), which costs $85 and are renewable every 5 years. Portable and mobile radios are both available, and these radios put out 5 watts. The BaoFeng UV-5R is a favorite of survivalist, preppers, and other internet radio enthusiasts, which means that this radio has a wide range of third party accessories and a massive body of tips, tricks, and hacks available. GMRS radios cost about $25-$50, but require a significant investment in time, as they need to be programed first using CHIRP.