Comparison

Flaresat vs Retichat

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Flaresat

This app provides a shared live map for groups to coordinate activities. It allows real-time location tracking, map-based chat, and the ability to drop pins and trace routes, with both online and off-grid functionality.

Highlights
  • Shared live map
  • Real-time location tracking
  • Map-based chat
  • Smart pins with notes
  • Draw on map
  • Breadcrumb recording
  • Off-grid communication (with hardware)
Features
Read full description

Coordinate the Chaos. Flaresat is the shared live map for your group, online over cellular/WiFi, or completely off-grid with a Meshtastic or MeshCore LoRa radio. Drop pins, trace routes, track locations, and chat in real-time, with or without a signal. It works everywhere: Online: Cloud-synced instantly over 4G/5G/WiFi. Off-Grid: Pair with a Meshtastic or MeshCore radio to chat and track users over LoRa mesh without cell service or internet. STOP ASKING "WHERE ARE YOU?" Live Presence: See everyone's location moving in real-time. Map-Based Chat: Talk while you navigate. Your messages overlay the map so you never lose context. Smart Pins: Mark the meetup spot, the tent, or the hidden trail. Every pin includes notes and navigation. POWERFUL PLANNING TOOLS Draw on the Map: Circle danger zones or draw the path for the group to follow. Breadcrumbs: Record your path so others can retrace your steps. Quick Navigation: One tap on any friend or pin to get walking directions. BUILT FOR REAL LIFE Festivals: Find your friends in the crowd. Off-Roading & Hiking: Stay connected in the backcountry (requires Meshtastic or MeshCore hardware). Family Trips: Keep the convoy together on the highway. Search & Rescue: Coordinate grids and track team coverage. Trusted by hikers, hunters, search and rescue teams, and festival crews who need a shared map that works anywhere, signal or no signal. PRIVACY FIRST Your location is only shared with the groups you create. You are in control. Download Flaresat and start mapping together.

About

Retichat

This app provides end-to-end encrypted communication over decentralized networks. It supports store-and-forward propagation and federated nodes for lightweight push notifications. Future updates will include LoRa, group, and channel support.

Highlights
  • End-to-end forward encryption
  • Decentralized and organization-less
  • LXMF Store-and-Forward support
  • RFed federated propagation
  • Lightweight push notifications
Features
Read full description

Reticulum LXMF chat client for iPhone Offers end-to-end forward encrypted communication over Reticulum networks Completely decentralized and organization-less Support for LXMF Store-and-Forward propagation Additional functionality using RFed federated propagation nodes Features lightweight push notification through a notify-only (no message data) relay RFed capability Soon to come: LoRa support Group support Channel support

Screenshots

Flaresat4 screens
Retichat2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Flaresat at 100% against Retichat's 33%. Flaresat also leads on rating (3.5 vs 2.9) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Flaresat holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Flaresat's written reviews are positive against 33% of Retichat's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Flaresat ships an update every 6 days, Retichat every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Flaresat versus Retichat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFlaresatRetichat
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (4 ratings) — better2.9 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings48 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size89 MB19 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperFares SalehNew Endian LLC

Customer experience

Flaresat

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Retichat

All ratings8 ratings
Positive37.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Flaresat

No in-app purchases

None

Retichat

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Flaresat free?
Flaresat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Retichat free?
Retichat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Flaresat or Retichat?
Flaresat is rated higher. Flaresat averages 3.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Retichat averages 2.9 from 8 ratings.
Do Flaresat or Retichat have ads?
Neither Flaresat nor Retichat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Flaresat or Retichat?
Flaresat ships an update every 6 days, and Retichat every 3 days. Most recently, Flaresat was updated on October 12, 2026 and Retichat on October 25, 2026.

Other comparisons