Comparison

nRF Mesh vs ESP RainMaker Home

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

nRF Mesh

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
Read full description

nRF Mesh allows you to easily deploy nodes to any Bluetooth Mesh compatible Nodes, giving you flexibility to deploy many different Mesh network Setups. Features: • Identifying: Identify a node before provisioning it. • Provisioning: Deployment of a new Node is as simple as a press of a button. All Out-Of-Band (OOB) methods are supported. • Remote Provisioning: Allows provisioning Nodes that are too faw to reach them directly. • Configuration: Create Network and Application keys or use the randomly generated ones, subscribe to groups and setup your nodes for publishing. • Node Control: Control nodes with Generic OnOff Server, Generic Level Server, Generic OnPowerUp Server, Scene Server and many other models. • Device Firmware Update: Quickly send a new firmware to the Distributor and observe it slowly distributing it to all the nodes. Additionally, you may also run the following configuration commands on your network: • Fully control node publication data. All publication parameters are configurable. • Add/Remove one or more subscription addresses on a model. • Create own AppKeys, or generate them using the builtin crypto-safe generator. • Bind/unbind an Application Key to a specific model for full granular control of your networks' security. • Explore the nodes' capabilities to view all elements, models, provisioning time and date, Manufacturer and available vendor data. • Set the Default TTL on a per-node basis. • Manage global AppKey list on a node. • And much more... Hardware support: - This version of the app is capable of communicating with any BLE devices that speak Bluetooth Mesh! - We recommend nRF5 devices with our nRF SDK for Mesh or nRF Connect SDK.

About

ESP RainMaker Home

Features
Read full description

Transform your home into a smart ecosystem with ESP RainMaker Home - Built with React Native, a hybrid technology, for a seamless, native experience - Organize devices by rooms and homes for intuitive control - Create scenes to control multiple devices at once - Instant device state synchronization across all your devices - Control devices locally or through the ESP RainMaker cloud - Support for smart lights, sockets, switches, fans, and sensors - Quick device setup via QR code, BLE discovery, and SoftAP - Google and Apple Sign-In support - Real-time notifications for device status and system events - Built on open-source technologies with modular architecture

Screenshots

nRF Mesh4 screens
ESP RainMaker Home4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ESP RainMaker Home at every 11 days against nRF Mesh's every 6 weeks. nRF Mesh's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

nRF Mesh ships an update every 6 weeks, ESP RainMaker Home every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on August 24, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
nRF Mesh versus ESP RainMaker Home: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameternRF MeshESP RainMaker Home
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews30.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB79 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNordic Semiconductor ASAESPRESSIF SYSTEMS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.

In-app purchases

None

nRF Mesh

No in-app purchases

None

ESP RainMaker Home

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is nRF Mesh free?
nRF Mesh is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ESP RainMaker Home free?
ESP RainMaker Home is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do nRF Mesh or ESP RainMaker Home have ads?
Neither nRF Mesh nor ESP RainMaker Home shows ads.
Which is updated more often, nRF Mesh or ESP RainMaker Home?
nRF Mesh ships an update every 6 weeks, and ESP RainMaker Home every 11 days. Most recently, nRF Mesh was updated on August 24, 2026 and ESP RainMaker Home on September 17, 2026.

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