# bitchat mesh vs Herd

The clearest difference is ratings volume: bitchat mesh at 526 against Herd's 1. bitchat mesh also leads on chart position (#74 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Herd's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Herd holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: bitchat mesh has 526 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

bitchat mesh ships an update weekly, Herd every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | bitchat mesh | Herd |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (526 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitchat-mesh/id6748219622/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/herd-private-rsvps/id6793711077/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **526** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 79.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#74** | — |
| Size | 13 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [permissionless tech, llc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1824145893) | [James Woodbury](https://appshunter.io/developer/1737289600) |

## What reviewers say

### bitchat mesh

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

**Currently charting:** #74 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

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


### Herd

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/herd-private-rsvps/id6793711077)

This app simplifies event planning by allowing hosts to set minimum attendance requirements and guests to respond privately. It ensures honest feedback and reveals the final guest list only when the event is confirmed.

**Highlights:** Create and edit private events, Invite guests via text, Private replies via app, App Clip, or web, Set minimum turnout and required attendee rules, Track response progress privately, Reveal final guest list upon confirmation

**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 Herd free?

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

### Which has better reviews, bitchat mesh or Herd?

Herd is rated higher. bitchat mesh averages 4.7 out of 5 from 526 ratings, while Herd averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do bitchat mesh or Herd have ads?

Neither bitchat mesh nor Herd shows ads.

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

bitchat mesh ships an update weekly, and Herd every 2 weeks. Most recently, bitchat mesh was updated on November 8, 2026 and Herd on October 31, 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.*