# Monal vs MeshCore

The clearest difference is rating: MeshCore at 4.4 against Monal's 3.7. MeshCore also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 58%). Monal's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MeshCore sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Monal asks for nothing beyond the download.

MeshCore holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 140 and 93 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Monal's written reviews are positive against 71% of MeshCore's.

Monal ships an update every 5 weeks, MeshCore every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monal | MeshCore |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (140 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monal-xmpp-chat/id317711500/reviews) | **[4.4 (93 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshcore/id6742354151/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **140** | 93 |
| Positive reviews | 57.7% of reviews | **71.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 69 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Molitor und Dietzel, Inh. Thilo Molitor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1508738269) | [Liam Cottle](https://appshunter.io/developer/1510265310) |

## What reviewers say

### Monal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monal-xmpp-chat/id317711500)

This open-source messenger provides a fast and user-friendly way to connect to the XMPP public chat network. Enjoy private, ad-free communication with end-to-end encryption and features like group chats and file sharing.

**Highlights:** Open Source, No Ads, OMEMO encrypted chat, Multi user chat (MUC), Audio/Video calls, File sharing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well
- 🔒 Secure XMPP client
- 👍 Best XMPP client on iOS
- 🚀 Robust and dependable
- 👍 Actively developed

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Encryption problems
- 👎 Buggy UI and UX
- 🔍 Missing basic features (copy/paste, etc.)
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Disconnects frequently
- Incompatible with some XMPP servers
- Crashes when sending messages
- Issues with loading contact lists

**Requested features**

- Add OTR/PGP encryption support
- Improve group chat functionality
- Allow customization of sounds and notifications
- Optimize for older iOS versions


### MeshCore

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshcore/id6742354151)

This app enables secure, off-grid communication using LoRa radio devices. It allows users to pair with their device, set up their radio, and send messages to other discovered users on the same frequency. It's a decentralized way to connect without relying on traditional networks.

**Highlights:** Off-grid mesh communication, Secure messaging, LoRa radio device support, Bluetooth device pairing, Customizable display name, Network discovery and contact list

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remote Management | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monal free?

Monal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MeshCore free?

MeshCore is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Monal or MeshCore?

MeshCore is rated higher. Monal averages 3.7 out of 5 from 140 ratings, while MeshCore averages 4.4 from 93 ratings.

### Do Monal or MeshCore have ads?

Neither Monal nor MeshCore shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monal or MeshCore?

Monal ships an update every 5 weeks, and MeshCore every 3 weeks. Most recently, Monal was updated on September 28, 2026 and MeshCore on September 28, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*