# BigMarker Badge Scanner vs Meshtastic

The clearest difference is rating: BigMarker Badge Scanner at 5.0 against Meshtastic's 4.1. BigMarker Badge Scanner also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.5). Meshtastic's advantage is ratings volume (837 vs 6) and device support (5 vs 3). 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.

BigMarker Badge Scanner holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Meshtastic has 837 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

BigMarker Badge Scanner ships an update fortnightly, Meshtastic every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BigMarker Badge Scanner | Meshtastic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigmarker-badge-scanner/id1583514460/reviews)** | [4.1 (837 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshtastic/id1586432531/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **837** |
| Positive reviews | — | 44.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 95 MB | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [BigMarker.com, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/958061478) | [Meshtastic LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1586432533) |

## What reviewers say

### BigMarker Badge Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigmarker-badge-scanner/id1583514460)

Streamline on-site event check-ins and print custom badges instantly. Attendees can use QR codes for session entry or raffle participation. Event hosts can monitor attendee movement for both virtual and in-person participants.

**Highlights:** On-site attendee check-in, Custom badge printing, QR code scanning, Session check-in, Raffle entry, Attendee flow tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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, 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 BigMarker Badge Scanner free?

BigMarker Badge Scanner 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, BigMarker Badge Scanner or Meshtastic?

BigMarker Badge Scanner is rated higher. BigMarker Badge Scanner averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Meshtastic averages 4.1 from 837 ratings.

### Do BigMarker Badge Scanner or Meshtastic have ads?

Neither BigMarker Badge Scanner nor Meshtastic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BigMarker Badge Scanner or Meshtastic?

BigMarker Badge Scanner ships an update fortnightly, and Meshtastic every 9 days. Most recently, BigMarker Badge Scanner was updated on October 18, 2026 and Meshtastic on October 30, 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.*