Meshtastic vs TopInfrared
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Meshtastic
This app enables off-grid, decentralized communication via a low-power mesh network. Send text messages in areas lacking cellular or WiFi service.
- Off-grid communication
- Decentralized mesh network
- Low-power LoRa radio support
- Text messaging
- No cellular/WiFi required
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Meshtastic® is an open source, off-grid, decentralized, mesh network built to run on low-power Lora radios letting you send text messages in areas without reliable cellular or WiFi service.
TopInfrared
This thermal imaging camera app provides high-resolution thermal images for precise temperature detection. It's ideal for inspecting insulation, examining electronics, and identifying heat loss with excellent accuracy and sensitivity.
- High-resolution thermal imaging (256x192)
- Precise temperature detection
- Insulation inspection
- Circuit board examination
- High heat sensitivity (40mk)
- Low power consumption
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Applications: The iOS smartphone thermal imaging camera offers exceptional precision in detecting temperatures, inspecting insulation, and examining circuit boards. Its impressive 256x192 ultra-high resolution ensures that thermal images are both sharp and detailed. The device has a temperature accuracy of ±3.6°F(2°C), boasting a resolution of 0.1°C. Moreover, with a low power consumption of only 0.35W, you can use it for extended periods without concerns about battery life. The camera's high heat sensitivity of 40mk enables it to detect even the slightest temperature changes with great precision.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Meshtastic at 4.1 against TopInfrared's 3.5. Meshtastic also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). TopInfrared's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.5). On price, review sentiment and ads 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
Both are free to download. TopInfrared sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Meshtastic asks for nothing beyond the download.
Meshtastic holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Meshtastic has 843 ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Meshtastic's written reviews are positive against 40% of TopInfrared's.
Meshtastic ships an update weekly, TopInfrared every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | Meshtastic | TopInfrared |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (843 ratings) — better | 3.5 (52 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 44.0% of reviews — better | 39.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 843 — better | 52 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 147 MB | 518 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Meshtastic LLC | HK TOPDON TECHNOLOGY Co., LIMITED |
Customer experience
Meshtastic
TopInfrared
Bugs and requests
Meshtastic
Reported bugs
4 issues- Canned messages configuration issues
- Location sharing and traceroute functions not working
- Settings screen bugs and crashes
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between devices
Requested features
5 requests- Offline maps support
- Ability to customize notifications
- More sorting and filtering options for nodes
- Apple Watch and Shortcuts integration
- Improved documentation and user guidance
TopInfrared
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Meshtastic
No in-app purchases
TopInfrared
- AI Features$19.99
Questions
Is Meshtastic free?
Is TopInfrared free?
Which has better reviews, Meshtastic or TopInfrared?
Do Meshtastic or TopInfrared have ads?
Which is updated more often, Meshtastic or TopInfrared?
Other comparisons
