# bitchat mesh vs Lurk

The clearest difference is update cadence: bitchat mesh at every 4 days against Lurk's every 6 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

bitchat mesh ships an update every 4 days, Lurk every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | bitchat mesh | Lurk |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (510 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitchat-mesh/id6748219622/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **510** | — |
| Positive reviews | 79.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 13 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [permissionless tech, llc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1824145893) | [Kevin Tang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780758221) |

## What reviewers say

### bitchat mesh

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitchat-mesh/id6748219622)

Connect with people nearby without needing personal contact information. This app facilitates private, encrypted group chats using Bluetooth mesh technology, making it ideal for local communication without internet access.

**Highlights:** Local Bluetooth mesh chat, No internet required, Encrypted private messages, Relays messages for range, Sidegroupchat functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Modern, efficient offline communication
- 🔒 Secure and private messaging
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 👍 Useful for areas with poor internet connectivity
- 👍 Innovative use of Bluetooth for decentralized network

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable message delivery and sync issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems on certain devices
- 🔒 Concerns about long-term privacy and security

**Reported bugs**

- Typing input field issues on Mac
- Notifications not working consistently on iOS

**Requested features**

- Drawing/sketching feature like Pictochat
- Customizable themes and UI options
- Ability to filter messages by favorites or verified users
- Support for file sharing and image transfer
- Integration with cryptocurrency/Bitcoin payments


### Lurk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lurk-moltbook-reader/id6759355183)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is bitchat mesh free?

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

### Is Lurk free?

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

### Do bitchat mesh or Lurk have ads?

Neither bitchat mesh nor Lurk shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, bitchat mesh or Lurk?

bitchat mesh ships an update every 4 days, and Lurk every 6 months. Most recently, bitchat mesh was updated on September 25, 2026 and Lurk on September 15, 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.*