# Beartooth for iPhone vs Meshtastic

The clearest difference is rating: Meshtastic at 4.1 against Beartooth for iPhone's 2.8. Meshtastic also leads on ratings volume (824 vs 9) and review sentiment (44% vs 30%). Beartooth for iPhone's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.5). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Meshtastic holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Meshtastic has 824 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Beartooth for iPhone's written reviews are positive against 44% of Meshtastic's.

Beartooth for iPhone ships an update every 3 weeks, Meshtastic every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Beartooth for iPhone | Meshtastic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beartooth-for-iphone/id1208361416/reviews) | **[4.1 (824 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshtastic/id1586432531/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **824** |
| Positive reviews | 30.2% of reviews | **44.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 64 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Beartooth Radio INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1114207504) | [Meshtastic LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1586432533) |

## What reviewers say

### Beartooth for iPhone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beartooth-for-iphone/id1208361416)

This application connects to a specialized handheld device, enabling communication without cellular service. It offers push-to-talk voice calls and text messaging for groups or individuals, extending connectivity for outdoor adventures.

**Highlights:** Push-to-talk voice communication, One-on-one and group text messaging, Topographic maps for explorers, Connects to Beartooth handheld device, Works without cell service

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🗺️ Great map feature
- 🗣️ Excellent voice quality
- 💡 Innovative concept
- 🚀 Setup is simple

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Does not work
- 💸 Overpriced
- 🔋 Poor battery life
- 🔌 Connection issues
- 📉 Limited range

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when scanning for other users
- App crashes when scanning for contacts
- Device does not stay connected via Bluetooth
- Device disconnects after half an hour
- Firmware update didn't work with iPhone

**Requested features**

- iPad compatibility
- Adjust power settings to be more user friendly
- Update dull colors on the app, offer color selection options
- Improve UI and interface simplicity and function
- Add dark mode option


### Meshtastic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshtastic/id1586432531)

This app enables off-grid, decentralized communication via a low-power mesh network. Send text messages in areas lacking cellular or WiFi service.

**Highlights:** Off-grid communication, Decentralized mesh network, Low-power LoRa radio support, Text messaging, No cellular/WiFi required

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Well-made app
- 🚀 Polished and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Powerful features for off-grid communication
- 👍 Great community and responsive developers
- 👍 Continuously improving with updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bluetooth connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable messaging and node connections
- 🐛 Crashes and stability problems
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Lacking feature parity with Android version

**Reported bugs**

- Canned messages configuration issues
- Location sharing and traceroute functions not working
- Settings screen bugs and crashes
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between devices

**Requested features**

- Offline maps support
- Ability to customize notifications
- More sorting and filtering options for nodes
- Apple Watch and Shortcuts integration
- Improved documentation and user guidance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Beartooth for iPhone free?

Beartooth for iPhone is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Meshtastic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Beartooth for iPhone or Meshtastic?

Meshtastic is rated higher. Beartooth for iPhone averages 2.8 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Meshtastic averages 4.1 from 824 ratings.

### Do Beartooth for iPhone or Meshtastic have ads?

Neither Beartooth for iPhone nor Meshtastic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Beartooth for iPhone or Meshtastic?

Beartooth for iPhone ships an update every 3 weeks, and Meshtastic every 10 days. Most recently, Beartooth for iPhone was updated on October 1, 2026 and Meshtastic on October 14, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*