# HFpager vs Meshtastic

The clearest difference is rating: Meshtastic at 4.1 against HFpager's 3.0. Meshtastic also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). HFpager's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 44%) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 17.5). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HFpager sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Meshtastic asks for nothing beyond the download.

Meshtastic holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Meshtastic has 824 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of HFpager's written reviews are positive against 44% of Meshtastic's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

HFpager ships an update every 3 months, Meshtastic every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HFpager | Meshtastic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hfpager/id1534721365/reviews) | **[4.1 (824 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshtastic/id1586432531/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **824** |
| Positive reviews | **71.4% of reviews** | 44.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 26 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Dmitry Likhtarov](https://appshunter.io/developer/428797499) | [Meshtastic LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1586432533) |

## What reviewers say

### HFpager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hfpager/id1534721365)

This utility app enables the exchange of short text messages through audio and radio channels using IFSK modulation. It offers basic reception and transmission functions for free, with a subscription unlocking all features and removing ads.

**Highlights:** IFSK modulation for audio messaging, Send and receive short text messages, Utilizes audio and radio channels, Basic functions free, Subscription removes restrictions and ads

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Подписка 12 месяцев | $9.99 | per year |


### 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 HFpager free?

HFpager is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Meshtastic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HFpager or Meshtastic?

Meshtastic is rated higher. HFpager averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Meshtastic averages 4.1 from 824 ratings.

### Do HFpager or Meshtastic have ads?

HFpager shows ads; Meshtastic does not.

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

HFpager ships an update every 3 months, and Meshtastic every 10 days. Most recently, HFpager was updated on October 12, 2026 and Meshtastic on October 16, 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.*