ArcAir vs Meshtastic
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ArcAir
This app facilitates the online monitoring and visualization of various sensor data for biotechnological processes. It allows wireless communication with multiple sensors simultaneously and provides central data management, reporting, and validation for sensor calibration and configuration, supporting GMP guidelines.
- Online sensor monitoring
- Data visualization
- Wireless sensor communication
- Central data management
- Sensor calibration validation
- Paperless workflow support
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ArcAir is the app for Hamilton Arc sensors. It enables online monitoring and visualization of pH, dissolved oxygen, CO2, cell density, conductivity, and ORP sensors during biotechnological processes. With the ArcAir application, you can communicate wirelessly with up to 100 Arc sensors at the same time parallel to the process control system interface when an Arc Wi Bluetooth adapter is connected between the VP head of an Arc sensor and the VP sensor cable or the sensor has inbuilt Bluetooth functionality. Within the ArcAir application, Hamilton provides reporting and central data management of users, as well as validation reports for sensor calibration (excluding VCD sensors), verification, configuration, and communication. ArcAir embeds report’s electronic signatures, enabling paperless workflow. All of this complies with the GMP guidelines such as FDA CFR21 Part 11 or Eudralex Volume 4 Annex 11.
Meshtastic
This app enables off-grid, decentralized communication via a low-power mesh network. Send text messages in areas lacking cellular or WiFi service.
- Off-grid communication
- Decentralized mesh network
- Low-power LoRa radio support
- Text messaging
- No cellular/WiFi required
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Meshtastic® is an open source, off-grid, decentralized, mesh network built to run on low-power Lora radios letting you send text messages in areas without reliable cellular or WiFi service.
Screenshots
Verdict
ArcAir and Meshtastic both sit at 4.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of ArcAir's written reviews are positive against 44% of Meshtastic's. ArcAir also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.5). Meshtastic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 months). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. ArcAir sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Meshtastic asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for ArcAir against 4.1 for Meshtastic. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Meshtastic has 824 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of ArcAir's written reviews are positive against 44% of Meshtastic's.
ArcAir ships an update every 5 months, Meshtastic every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ArcAir | Meshtastic |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (8 ratings) | 4.1 (824 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 44.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 824 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 17.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 95 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Hamilton Bonaduz AG | Meshtastic LLC |
Customer experience
ArcAir
Meshtastic
Bugs and requests
ArcAir
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Meshtastic
Reported bugs
4 issues- Canned messages configuration issues
- Location sharing and traceroute functions not working
- Settings screen bugs and crashes
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between devices
Requested features
5 requests- Offline maps support
- Ability to customize notifications
- More sorting and filtering options for nodes
- Apple Watch and Shortcuts integration
- Improved documentation and user guidance
In-app purchases
ArcAir
- ArcAir Basic VersionFree
- ArcAir Advanced Version$199.99
Meshtastic
No in-app purchases
