# Feld Hellschreiber vs Meshtastic

The clearest difference is price: Meshtastic at Free against Feld Hellschreiber's $2.99. Meshtastic also leads on rating (4.1 vs 2.8) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 13 months). Feld Hellschreiber's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 44%) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 17.5). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Meshtastic is free to download; Feld Hellschreiber costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Meshtastic holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Meshtastic has 824 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Feld Hellschreiber's written reviews are positive against 44% of Meshtastic's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Feld Hellschreiber ships an update every 13 months, Meshtastic every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Feld Hellschreiber | Meshtastic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/feld-hellschreiber/id650758963/reviews) | **[4.1 (824 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshtastic/id1586432531/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **824** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 44.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 4 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Black Cat Systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/301047032) | [Meshtastic LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1586432533) |

## What reviewers say

### Feld Hellschreiber

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/feld-hellschreiber/id650758963)

This app decodes and transmits text messages using the historical Hellschreiber system, which sends characters as audio signals. It's ideal for amateur radio operators and enthusiasts interested in vintage communication methods. The app allows for both manual text entry and pre-set messages, with adjustable display contrast for optimal viewing.

**Highlights:** Decode Hellschreiber messages, Transmit text messages, Canned text message support, Adjustable display contrast, Real-time text scrolling, Audio input/output via device mic/speaker

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Meshtastic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshtastic/id1586432531)

This app enables off-grid, decentralized communication via a low-power mesh network. Send text messages in areas lacking cellular or WiFi service.

**Highlights:** Off-grid communication, Decentralized mesh network, Low-power LoRa radio support, Text messaging, No cellular/WiFi required

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Well-made app
- 🚀 Polished and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Powerful features for off-grid communication
- 👍 Great community and responsive developers
- 👍 Continuously improving with updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bluetooth connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable messaging and node connections
- 🐛 Crashes and stability problems
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Lacking feature parity with Android version

**Reported bugs**

- Canned messages configuration issues
- Location sharing and traceroute functions not working
- Settings screen bugs and crashes
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between devices

**Requested features**

- Offline maps support
- Ability to customize notifications
- More sorting and filtering options for nodes
- Apple Watch and Shortcuts integration
- Improved documentation and user guidance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Feld Hellschreiber free?

Feld Hellschreiber costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Meshtastic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Feld Hellschreiber or Meshtastic?

Meshtastic is rated higher. Feld Hellschreiber averages 2.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Meshtastic averages 4.1 from 824 ratings.

### Do Feld Hellschreiber or Meshtastic have ads?

Neither Feld Hellschreiber nor Meshtastic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Feld Hellschreiber or Meshtastic?

Feld Hellschreiber ships an update every 13 months, and Meshtastic every 10 days. Most recently, Feld Hellschreiber was updated on October 8, 2026 and Meshtastic on October 11, 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.*