Meshtastic vs ShowMatic
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
Read full descriptionHide 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.
ShowMatic
Read full descriptionHide full description
ShowMatic is the mobile command center for our controllers. Built for haunted attractions, escape rooms, interactive exhibits, and entertainment venues that demand instant visibility and zero downtime. YOUR SHOW IN YOUR POCKET See every device across your location at a glance. Live status streams over Wi-Fi so you know the second a prop stops responding, an air loop drops pressure, or a controller loses power - before patrons notice. MONITOR & DIAGNOSE FROM ANYWHERE Monitor and diagnose your devices from right in front of the prop, from anywhere in the world over the internet, or even without Wi-Fi or internet. FAULT NOTIFICATIONS Get a push alert when a problem is detected. Your tech team can intercept problems before the show is affected. MANAGE AND CONFIGURE Use the app to provision your devices for Wi-Fi, upload sounds, configure scenes, and more. REQUIREMENTS ShowMatic hardware and a ShowMatic account on our cloud.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: ShowMatic at 15.6 against Meshtastic's 17.5. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Meshtastic ships an update every 10 days, ShowMatic every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Meshtastic | ShowMatic |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (824 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 44.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 824 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 95 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Meshtastic LLC | Bright Ideas Custom Electronics Inc |
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
ShowMatic
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Meshtastic
No in-app purchases
ShowMatic
No in-app purchases
