Comparison

Meshtastic vs knock(1)

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 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
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

knock(1)

This utility app allows you to remotely open firewall ports on your server using a saved sequence of connection attempts from your iPhone. It supports TCP or UDP for each port and provides live feedback on the connection status.

Highlights
  • Save and reuse multiple host configurations
  • Per-port TCP or UDP selection
  • Configurable inter-packet delay
  • Live per-port result display
  • Native SwiftUI interface
  • No tracking or analytics
Features
Read full description

Knock is a minimal, native port-knocking client for iOS. Open ports in your firewall - SSH, VPN, admin panels - by sending a saved sequence from your iPhone. Save named configurations with a host, a list of ports, a delay, and a timeout. Each port can be independently TCP or UDP. Run the sequence with a single tap and watch each knock's result stream in live. FEATURES • Save and reuse multiple host configurations • Per-port TCP or UDP selection • Configurable inter-packet delay and socket timeout • Live per-port result display • Clean SwiftUI interface, native look and feel • No tracking, no analytics, no accounts HOW IT WORKS Port knocking is a technique for opening firewall ports on demand: your server watches for a specific sequence of connection attempts (for example, TCP/7000, UDP/8000, TCP/9000), and only opens a protected service like SSH after seeing the right pattern. knock(1) lets you send those sequences from your phone, allowing you to connect to your servers on the go. COMPATIBLE knock(1)'s behavior matches the reference jvinet/knock client - if your server runs knockd, knock(1) works out of the box. PRIVACY knock(1) connects only to the hosts you configure. It does not send telemetry, does not use analytics SDKs, and does not require an account. Your saved configurations stay on your device.

Screenshots

Meshtastic4 screens
knock(1)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: knock(1) at 5.0 against Meshtastic's 4.1. Meshtastic's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (846 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

knock(1) holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Meshtastic has 846 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Meshtastic ships an update weekly, knock(1) every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Meshtastic versus knock(1): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMeshtasticknock(1)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (846 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews44.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings846 — better2
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.517.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size147 MB3 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperMeshtastic LLCJeffrey Cousens

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

knock(1)

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Meshtastic

No in-app purchases

None

knock(1)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Meshtastic free?
Meshtastic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is knock(1) free?
knock(1) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Meshtastic or knock(1)?
knock(1) is rated higher. Meshtastic averages 4.1 out of 5 from 846 ratings, while knock(1) averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Meshtastic or knock(1) have ads?
Neither Meshtastic nor knock(1) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Meshtastic or knock(1)?
Meshtastic ships an update weekly, and knock(1) every 2 months. Most recently, Meshtastic was updated on November 7, 2026 and knock(1) on October 31, 2026.

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