Comparison

Meshtastic vs NetBuddy MobileShark

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Meshtastic

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
Read full description

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.

About

NetBuddy MobileShark

This app transforms your iOS device into a professional network packet analyzer. It allows for deep packet inspection, protocol analysis, and intuitive visualization of network traffic. Ideal for troubleshooting, security investigations, and debugging network-related code.

Highlights
  • Packet capture and analysis
  • Protocol detection and inspection
  • Connection tracking
  • Traffic visualization
  • Advanced filtering
  • Export capabilities
  • Local data processing
Features
Read full description

NetBuddy - MobileShark: Professional Network Analysis in Your Pocket MobileShark transforms your iOS device into a powerful network packet analyzer, bringing desktop-class packet capture and analysis capabilities to mobile. Whether you're a network administrator troubleshooting connectivity issues, a security professional investigating suspicious traffic, or a developer debugging network-related code, MobileShark provides the insights you need with an intuitive, touch-optimized interface. Comprehensive Protocol Analysis Instantly identify and understand network protocols with MobileShark's intelligent protocol analyzer: Protocol Detection: Automatically identifies TCP, UDP, ICMP, HTTP, HTTPS, DNS and other common protocols Deep Packet Inspection: Examine packet headers and payload data with detailed breakdowns Hex Dump View: Inspect raw packet data in traditional hex+ASCII format Connection Tracking: Group related packets into conversations for easier analysis Intuitive Visualization Tools Understand complex network patterns at a glance with visual analytics: Protocol Distribution Charts: See the breakdown of protocols in your capture Traffic Flow Visualization: Track data flow between hosts with interactive diagrams Dashboard View: Get key statistics about your network traffic in real-time Customizable Filters: Focus on the traffic that matters most to you Professional Features MobileShark includes capabilities typically found only in desktop analysis tools: Advanced Filtering: Create complex filters to isolate specific traffic patterns Export Capabilities: Share your findings or continue analysis on desktop tools Detailed Statistics: Analyze packet timing, size distributions, and more IP Resolution: Automatically resolve IP addresses to hostnames when possible Port Information: Identify services based on standard port assignments Privacy and Security Your data stays on your device: Local Processing: All analysis happens on your device – no data is sent to external servers Privacy Respecting: No analytics or tracking in the app Built for iOS MobileShark embraces the latest iOS technologies: Native SwiftUI Interface: Smooth, responsive UI designed for touch Dark Mode Support: Comfortable analysis in any lighting condition Split View on iPad: Take advantage of the larger screen for side-by-side views Document Browser: Easily manage and access your packet captures Files Integration: Save and load captures from iCloud Drive or other storage providers Perfect For Network administrators diagnosing connectivity issues Security professionals investigating suspicious traffic Developers debugging network communications IT students learning about protocols and network operations Anyone curious about what their apps are doing behind the scenes MobileShark brings the power of professional network analysis tools to iOS, with an interface designed specifically for mobile devices. Capture, inspect, and understand network traffic wherever you are – no laptop required. Download MobileShark today and gain unprecedented visibility into your network communications!

Screenshots

Meshtastic4 screens
NetBuddy MobileShark4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Meshtastic at Free against NetBuddy MobileShark's $1.99. Meshtastic also leads on rating (4.2 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 months). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Meshtastic is free to download; NetBuddy MobileShark costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Meshtastic holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Meshtastic has 803 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Meshtastic's written reviews are positive against 25% of NetBuddy MobileShark's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Meshtastic ships an update every 10 days, NetBuddy MobileShark every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Meshtastic versus NetBuddy MobileShark: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMeshtasticNetBuddy MobileShark
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.2 (803 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews45.2% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings803 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.5 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size76 MB1 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperMeshtastic LLCRick Bodnar

Customer experience

Meshtastic

All ratings803 ratings
Positive76.8%
Neutral6.2%
Negative16.9%
Written reviews405 reviews
Positive45.2%
Neutral14.8%
Negative40.0%

NetBuddy MobileShark

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

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

NetBuddy MobileShark

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Meshtastic

No in-app purchases

None

NetBuddy MobileShark

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Meshtastic free?
Meshtastic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NetBuddy MobileShark free?
NetBuddy MobileShark costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Meshtastic or NetBuddy MobileShark?
Meshtastic is rated higher. Meshtastic averages 4.2 out of 5 from 803 ratings, while NetBuddy MobileShark averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Meshtastic or NetBuddy MobileShark have ads?
Neither Meshtastic nor NetBuddy MobileShark shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Meshtastic or NetBuddy MobileShark?
Meshtastic ships an update every 10 days, and NetBuddy MobileShark every 3 months. Most recently, Meshtastic was updated on September 24, 2026 and NetBuddy MobileShark on September 10, 2026.

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