EL Mesh vs ZFriends
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
EL Mesh
Discover and connect with people in your immediate vicinity. Share your social media profiles effortlessly to foster new friendships and conversations in real-world settings like gyms, coffee shops, or while traveling.
- Discover people nearby in real-time
- Send waves and start conversations
- Share social media links
- Flexible privacy modes (Ghost, Chill, On the Go)
- Make new friends anywhere
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EL Mesh is a fun, easy way to meet new people and share your socials with those around you. Ever see someone you wanted to talk to but never got the chance? Whether you’re at the gym, a coffee shop, campus, or traveling, EL Mesh helps you turn nearby moments into real connections. CONNECT WITH PEOPLE NEARBY * Discover people around you in real time * Send waves and start conversations effortlessly * Make new friends wherever life takes you SHARE YOUR SOCIALS * Add your Instagram and other socials to your profile * Let people find and follow you after you connect * No awkward asking — your links are already there YOU’RE IN CONTROL Choose how visible you want to be with flexible privacy modes: Ghost Mode – stay completely hidden Chill Mode – you're visible to nearby users On the Go – stay discoverable while you’re out EL Mesh makes meeting people simple, social, and on your terms. Step out, get noticed, and connect. Sign up with your @msu.edu email to join. EL Mesh is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Michigan State University.
ZFriends
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ZFriends is an app to help you connect, play, and make new friends effortlessly. Match with and connect with people who share your interests, join fun activities, and spark real friendships, all in one vibrant community. With ZFriends, every connection starts with an activity and grows into something meaningful. Each Activity can be set as private so only the people your connected to can join your private activities. Your Profile can be set as private so only the people your connected to with your approval can view your profile. Connect. Play. Make Friends with ZFriends!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: ZFriends at 15.1 against EL Mesh's 17.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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.
EL Mesh ships an update weekly, ZFriends every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EL Mesh | ZFriends |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 70 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Atlas Labs LLC (MI) | Benjamin Pabilonia |
In-app purchases
EL Mesh
No in-app purchases
ZFriends
No in-app purchases
