# nRF Mesh vs ESP SoftAP Provisioning

The clearest difference is rating: nRF Mesh at 4.0 against ESP SoftAP Provisioning's 2.6. nRF Mesh also leads on review sentiment (30% vs 0%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, 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.

nRF Mesh holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of nRF Mesh's written reviews are positive against 0% of ESP SoftAP Provisioning's.

nRF Mesh ships an update every 6 weeks, ESP SoftAP Provisioning every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | nRF Mesh | ESP SoftAP Provisioning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nrf-mesh/id1380726771/reviews)** | [2.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esp-softap-provisioning/id1474040630/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | **30.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 12 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nordic Semiconductor ASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/497679114) | [ESPRESSIF SYSTEMS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1071176699) |

## What reviewers say

### nRF Mesh

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nrf-mesh/id1380726771)

Easily deploy and manage Bluetooth Mesh networks. Control individual nodes, configure network settings, and update device firmware remotely. Supports a wide range of BLE devices compatible with Bluetooth Mesh.

**Highlights:** Node provisioning and identification, Remote provisioning capabilities, Network and application key configuration, Node control via various server models, Device firmware updates, Granular control over publication data and subscriptions, Explore node capabilities and security settings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ESP SoftAP Provisioning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esp-softap-provisioning/id1474040630)

Configure Wi-Fi credentials for ESP32 or ESP8266 devices using SoftAP transport. This utility supports Wi-Fi provisioning from ESP IDF version 3.2 and later, including security level 1 and Proof of Possession.

**Highlights:** SoftAP Wi-Fi Provisioning (ESP IDF v3.2+), Security Level 1, Proof of Possession (PoP), Wi-Fi scan list, Configure Network Name and Passphrase

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is nRF Mesh free?

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

### Is ESP SoftAP Provisioning free?

ESP SoftAP Provisioning is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, nRF Mesh or ESP SoftAP Provisioning?

nRF Mesh is rated higher. nRF Mesh averages 4.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while ESP SoftAP Provisioning averages 2.6 from 5 ratings.

### Do nRF Mesh or ESP SoftAP Provisioning have ads?

Neither nRF Mesh nor ESP SoftAP Provisioning shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, nRF Mesh or ESP SoftAP Provisioning?

nRF Mesh ships an update every 6 weeks, and ESP SoftAP Provisioning every 4 months. Most recently, nRF Mesh was updated on October 16, 2026 and ESP SoftAP Provisioning on October 13, 2026.

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