Meshtastic vs FactorCat
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.
FactorCat
This app streamlines multi-factor authentication by replacing manual code entry with a single tap approval via push notification. It offers secure, encrypted storage of your authentication secrets and supports two vault types for flexible recovery and enhanced security.
- One-tap MFA approval
- Automatic code filling via browser extension
- Encrypted TOTP secrets storage
- Cloud Vault for easy recovery
- Locked Vault with zero-trust encryption
- Standalone authenticator functionality
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FactorCat is a modern authenticator that replaces the code-copying ritual with a single tap. How it works: Install the browser extension on your computer. When you hit a login page that needs a code, FactorCat sends a push notification to your phone. Tap approve, confirm with Face ID or fingerprint, and the code fills in automatically. No switching apps. No squinting at timers. No mistyped digits. Security you can trust: Your TOTP secrets are stored on your device, encrypted and protected by biometrics. FactorCat never holds your passwords — MFA and passwords stay separate by design, so there's no single point of failure for your online identity. Two vault types: • Cloud Vault — cloud-managed keys for easy recovery. Great for getting started with MFA or for low-risk accounts. FactorCat can generate codes on your behalf when your phone is offline. • Locked Vault — zero-trust encryption using a model trusted by leading security products. You hold the keys. FactorCat cannot read your secrets. Backup via encrypted cloud blobs recoverable only with your emergency kit. Getting started takes 2 minutes: 1. Download FactorCat 2. Add your first token (scan a QR or let the browser extension capture it) 3. Pair with the extension via one QR scan 4. Done — your next login fills itself in Also works standalone. Use FactorCat as a regular authenticator with no account or extension required. When you're ready for auto-fill, pair up anytime. Free to use. No ads. No tracking. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.factorcat.com/privacy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: FactorCat at 5.0 against Meshtastic's 4.2. FactorCat also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.5). Meshtastic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 months). On price, ads and device support 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. FactorCat sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per year. Meshtastic asks for nothing beyond the download.
FactorCat holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. 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.
Meshtastic ships an update every 10 days, FactorCat every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Meshtastic | FactorCat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (803 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 45.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 803 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 76 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Meshtastic LLC | Capital F |
Customer experience
Meshtastic
FactorCat
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
FactorCat
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Meshtastic
No in-app purchases
FactorCat
- FactorCat Supporter$12.991 Year
- FactorCat Pro$24.991 Year
Questions
Is Meshtastic free?
Is FactorCat free?
Which has better reviews, Meshtastic or FactorCat?
Do Meshtastic or FactorCat have ads?
Which is updated more often, Meshtastic or FactorCat?
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