Heltec Hotspot vs MeshCore Update
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Heltec Hotspot
Manage your Helium Hotspots, track token earnings, and send Helium tokens securely. Onboard new devices to the Helium blockchain and assert their locations for accurate status and earning reports.
- Onboard Helium Hotspots
- View token earnings
- Send Helium tokens
- Manage multiple Hotspots
- Assert Hotspot location
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Heltec is a secure and convenient app for onboarding Helium Hotspots, viewing token earnings, and sending Helium tokens quickly between friends. Add your Heltec hotspot to Helium blockchain and assert location for it. And then you can view the earnings and the running status of it. With the Heltec app you can manage one or many Hotspots.
MeshCore Update
This utility app facilitates firmware updates for compatible MeshCore repeater devices. It supports both Bluetooth DFU and Wi-Fi OTA update methods, allowing users to download firmware, manage local files, and initiate the update process.
- Bluetooth DFU updates
- Wi-Fi OTA updates
- Check official firmware releases
- Download firmware packages
- Local firmware file management
- Scan for compatible devices
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MeshCore Update is a hardware utility app for updating supported MeshCore repeater devices. The app supports two firmware update methods: • Bluetooth DFU for supported nRF52-based MeshCore devices • Wi-Fi OTA for supported ESP32-based MeshCore devices You can select a supported hardware target, check official MeshCore firmware releases, download matching firmware packages, keep firmware files locally on your iPhone, and start the update flow from one place. For Bluetooth DFU devices, the app scans for compatible OTA / DFU devices and uploads the selected firmware package over Bluetooth. For ESP32 devices, the app connects to the device’s MeshCore OTA Wi-Fi access point and uploads the selected firmware using the device’s local OTA update interface. No login or account is required. Full firmware update testing requires supported MeshCore hardware. Without hardware, you can still browse supported targets, check official releases, download firmware files, and manage the local firmware repository.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: MeshCore Update at 100% against Heltec Hotspot's 0%. MeshCore Update also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). Heltec Hotspot's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). 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.
Heltec Hotspot ships an update monthly, MeshCore Update every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Heltec Hotspot | MeshCore Update |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 35 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Chengdu Huilite Automation Technology Co., Ltd. | Aleksandrs Sergejevs |
Customer experience
Heltec Hotspot
MeshCore Update
In-app purchases
Heltec Hotspot
No in-app purchases
MeshCore Update
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Heltec Hotspot free?
Is MeshCore Update free?
Do Heltec Hotspot or MeshCore Update have ads?
Which is updated more often, Heltec Hotspot or MeshCore Update?
Other comparisons
