# AutoGen vs Meshtastic

The clearest difference is update cadence: Meshtastic at every 10 days against AutoGen's every 72 months. Meshtastic also leads on device support (4 vs 2). AutoGen's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.5). On price, 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.

AutoGen ships an update every 72 months, Meshtastic every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AutoGen | Meshtastic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.2 (803 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshtastic/id1586432531/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **803** |
| Positive reviews | — | 45.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 72 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 17 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [DC Generators Power Co Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1814155849) | [Meshtastic LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1586432533) |

## What reviewers say

### AutoGen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/autogen/id1468312359)

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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, 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 AutoGen free?

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

### Is Meshtastic free?

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

### Do AutoGen or Meshtastic have ads?

Neither AutoGen nor Meshtastic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AutoGen or Meshtastic?

AutoGen ships an update every 72 months, and Meshtastic every 10 days. Most recently, AutoGen was updated on September 12, 2026 and Meshtastic on September 24, 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.*