# Radio Messenger vs MeshCoreScanner

The clearest difference is rating: Radio Messenger at 5.0 against MeshCoreScanner's 4.5. Radio Messenger also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (6 vs 2). MeshCoreScanner's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Radio Messenger sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. MeshCoreScanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

Radio Messenger holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Radio Messenger ships an update every 3 weeks, MeshCoreScanner every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Radio Messenger | MeshCoreScanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/radio-messenger/id6730110865/reviews)** | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshcorescanner/id6761951768/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 39 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Island Magic Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529387252) | [Jaroslaw Karas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1873177164) |

## What reviewers say

### Radio Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/radio-messenger/id6730110865)

Communicate off-grid using amateur radio frequencies. Send messages, files, photos, and locations without cellular service. Supports APRS and enhanced direct messaging modes.

**Highlights:** Off-grid messaging, APRS messaging, Enhanced messaging, Location sharing, Offline maps, File and image sharing, Identity verification

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Radio Messenger Plus Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Radio Messenger Plus Yearly | $14.99 | per year |


### MeshCoreScanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshcorescanner/id6761951768)

This app maps LoRa mesh network coverage in real-time by connecting to compatible BLE radio devices. It plots scan points and discovered repeaters on a map, cataloging signal quality and discovery history. Organize scans into sessions and export data for external analysis.

**Highlights:** Live coverage mapping on OpenStreetMap, Repeater database with discovery history, Coverage visualization per repeater, Organized scan sessions, Background scanning with GPS/BLE, GeoJSON data export, Fully offline functionality

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Radio Messenger free?

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

### Is MeshCoreScanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Radio Messenger or MeshCoreScanner?

Radio Messenger is rated higher. Radio Messenger averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while MeshCoreScanner averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Radio Messenger or MeshCoreScanner have ads?

Neither Radio Messenger nor MeshCoreScanner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Radio Messenger or MeshCoreScanner?

Radio Messenger ships an update every 3 weeks, and MeshCoreScanner every 6 weeks. Most recently, Radio Messenger was updated on October 7, 2026 and MeshCoreScanner on October 17, 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.*