# Meshtastic vs TopInfrared

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Meshtastic | TopInfrared |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (843 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshtastic/id1586432531/reviews)** | [3.5 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topinfrared/id6452017744/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **843** | 52 |
| Positive reviews | **44.0% of reviews** | 39.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 147 MB | 518 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Meshtastic LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1586432533) | [HK TOPDON TECHNOLOGY Co., LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1846276192) |

## What reviewers say

### Meshtastic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshtastic/id1586432531)

This app enables off-grid, decentralized text messaging using low-power LoRa radios. It creates a mesh network for communication in areas lacking cellular or WiFi service. The open-source platform is designed for reliable, decentralized connectivity.

**Highlights:** Off-grid communication, Decentralized mesh network, LoRa radio integration, Text messaging, Open source platform, Low-power operation

**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


### TopInfrared

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topinfrared/id6452017744)

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.

**Highlights:** High-resolution thermal imaging (256x192), Precise temperature detection, Insulation inspection, Circuit board examination, High heat sensitivity (40mk), Low power consumption

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AI Features | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Meshtastic free?

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

### Is TopInfrared free?

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

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

Meshtastic is rated higher. Meshtastic averages 4.1 out of 5 from 843 ratings, while TopInfrared averages 3.5 from 52 ratings.

### Do Meshtastic or TopInfrared have ads?

Neither Meshtastic nor TopInfrared shows ads.

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

Meshtastic ships an update weekly, and TopInfrared every 3 weeks. Most recently, Meshtastic was updated on November 3, 2026 and TopInfrared on November 3, 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.*