GOV.UK ID Check vs Meaco
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GOV.UK ID Check
This app verifies your identity by matching your face to your photo ID. It's used for accessing certain government services and managing your GOV.UK One Login security codes. Supported IDs include UK driving licences, passports, and biometric permits.
- Facial recognition matching
- Photo ID scanning
- Biometric chip scanning (for passports/permits)
- Secure data handling
- Supports multiple UK photo IDs
- Identity confirmation for government services
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Use GOV.UK ID Check to prove your identity when you: • access some HMRC services with Government Gateway • need to change how you get security codes to sign in to your GOV.UK One Login It works by matching your face to your photo ID. Before you start You can use any of the following types of photo ID: • UK photocard driving licence • UK passport • non-UK passport with a biometric chip • UK biometric residence permit (BRP) • UK biometric residence card (BRC) • UK Frontier Worker permit (FWP) You can use an expired driving licence if it expired in the last 90 days and it was issued by DVLA. You can use an expired BRP, BRC or FWP up to 24 months after its expiry date. You will also need: • a well-lit area where you can take a good quality photograph • an iPhone 8 or newer • iOS 16.7 or higher How it works If your photo ID is a driving licence you will: • take a photo of your driving licence • scan your face using your phone If your photo ID is a passport, BRP, BRC or FWP you will: • take a photo of your photo ID • scan the biometric chip in your photo ID using your phone • scan your face using your phone What happens next The app only helps confirm your identity. You will return to the website of the government service you were accessing to view the results of your identity check. Privacy and security Your personal information will not be stored in the app, or on the phone when you finish using it. We collect your data securely and delete it when it is no longer needed.
Meaco
Control your smart-enabled Meaco products remotely via Wi-Fi. Adjust settings, set timers, and monitor product status directly from your smartphone for enhanced convenience at home.
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Remote control
- Set ON/OFF timers
- Check product status
- Change settings and modes
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The Meaco App is designed to provide you with more control than ever before. Connect to your smart-enabled Meaco products quickly and easily via Wi-Fi and access their full functionality from the palm of your hand. Use the app to set ON and OFF timers, check the status of your product, change settings and modes. All features have been engineered on the app for seamless use in the home. No more searching for the air circulator remote in the dark or crossing the room to check if your dehumidifiers water tank is full.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: GOV.UK ID Check at 4.8 against Meaco's 4.0. GOV.UK ID Check also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 19 months) and ratings volume (5.2K vs 2). Meaco's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.7). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
GOV.UK ID Check holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GOV.UK ID Check has 5.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of GOV.UK ID Check's written reviews are positive against 21% of Meaco's.
GOV.UK ID Check ships an update every 3 weeks, Meaco every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GOV.UK ID Check | Meaco |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (5.2K ratings) — better | 4.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 38.3% of reviews — better | 21.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5.2K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 19 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.7 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 275 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Government Digital Service | Meaco (U.K.) Limited |
Customer experience
GOV.UK ID Check
Meaco
Bugs and requests
GOV.UK ID Check
Reported bugs
4 issues- Inconsistent passport chip scanning
- Facial recognition failures
- App crashes and freezes
- Incorrect name/information parsing
Requested features
4 requests- Improved instructions for passport chip scanning
- Support for more ID types (e.g. driver's licenses)
- Accessibility features for users with disabilities
- Streamlined process for frequent users
Meaco
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
GOV.UK ID Check
No in-app purchases
Meaco
No in-app purchases








