bitchat mesh vs Present IRL
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
bitchat mesh
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.
- Local Bluetooth mesh chat
- No internet required
- Encrypted private messages
- Relays messages for range
- Sidegroupchat functionality
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chat with people around you. don't need their phone # or email. the sidegroupchat for any function. uses bluetooth mesh, no internet needed. relays messages to go the distance! encrypted private messages.
Present IRL
Connect with friends and join events in real life. This private social app prioritizes genuine connections without algorithms, ads, or data selling. Currently in early access, requiring an invite to join.
- Connect in real life
- Share and join moments
- Private by default
- No algorithms
- No ads or data selling
- Early access with invite
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From casual hangs to large gatherings, you can share and join moments with those you actually want to stay connected to. Your account is private by default with no algorithms, ads or selling of your data. Present IRL is currently in early access. Join with an invite from someone already on.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: bitchat mesh at 80% against Present IRL's 50%. bitchat mesh also leads on chart position (#74 vs unranked). 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.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | bitchat mesh | Present IRL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (522 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 79.7% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 522 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #74 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | permissionless tech, llc | Present IRL LLC |
Customer experience
bitchat mesh
Present IRL
Bugs and requests
bitchat mesh
Reported bugs
2 issues- Typing input field issues on Mac
- Notifications not working consistently on iOS
Requested features
5 requests- 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
Present IRL
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
bitchat mesh
No in-app purchases
Present IRL
No in-app purchases
