Comparison

mqttch vs Nelos

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

Head to head
About

mqttch

Features
Read full description

Control your MQTT-connected smart home devices from your iPhone and Watch. mqttch gives you a live dashboard on both your iPhone and your wrist. Configure toggles, buttons, and status indicators for any MQTT broker β€” then operate them from either device. The iPhone app acts as an always-on proxy so your watch stays connected without draining its battery. Free to use with up to 3 controls. Unlock unlimited controls with a one-time purchase. KEY FEATURES - iPhone dashboard with live MQTT state and one-tap controls - Watch app with instant control from your wrist - Toggle, button, status, and compact control types - Per-topic payloads and JSON value path extraction - iPhone proxy keeps the watch connected via WatchConnectivity - Custom SF Symbol icons for every control - Visual topic builder for configuring MQTT topics per control - Secure credential storage in the Keychain - JSON config import/export for quick setup - Background App Refresh keeps state current - Home Assistant integration with device and entity browser BUILT FOR MQTT Works with any standard MQTT broker (Mosquitto, EMQX, HiveMQ, etc.). Publish and subscribe to arbitrary topics with configurable payloads. Request-update topics refresh state on every connect. TLS and authentication supported. DESIGNED FOR IPHONE & WATCH The iPhone dashboard shows live state for all controls. The watch app is a first-class citizen β€” large toggle rows, compact icon grids, and a connection status indicator give you a dashboard on your wrist.

About

Nelos

Features
Read full description

Stay connected beyond cell coverage. Nelos is an offline messaging, location sharing, and tracking app for families and small teams using MeshCore-compatible LoRa radios. Message your team, see everyone on a map, find trackers, and coordinate even when cell service or internet isn’t available. STAY TOGETHER OFF-GRID β€’ See teammates and compatible trackers on one map β€’ Send team messages and direct messages over LoRa β€’ Track family members, pets, and personal belongings with compatible trackers β€’ Find a tracker faster with Find Mode β€’ Create Safe Zones and get alerts when a tracker leaves them β€’ Send help requests and coordinate responses with your teams β€’ Create and join teams offline using QR codes READY FOR THE OUTDOORS β€’ Download detailed offline maps worldwide β€’ Mark campsites, meeting points, hazards, and other locations with waypoints β€’ Review the last 24 hours of location history MORE WITH NELOS PRO Unlock multiple active teams, unlimited offline maps, and up to 90 days of location history with a one-time lifetime purchase. PRIVACY-FOCUSED No account required. No central message server. Built for families, hiking, camping, outdoor adventures, travel, volunteer teams, festivals, and other off-grid situations. COMPATIBLE HARDWARE REQUIRED Off-grid communication requires MeshCore-compatible LoRa hardware. Download maps before heading out. Location updates and message delivery depend on your devices, radio conditions, terrain, positioning availability, and permissions. Help requests are sent to your Nelos teams, not emergency services. Nelos should not be your only means of communication or safety in critical situations.

Screenshots

mqttch4 screens
Nelos4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nelos at none against mqttch's 1. Nelos also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. mqttch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Nelos asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
mqttch versus Nelos: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermqttchNelos
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyβ€”Every 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS17.015.1 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size6 MB57 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperNico BousquetThe Quyen Le

In-app purchases

1 purchases

mqttch

One-time1
  • Unlock Unlimited Controls$2.99
None

Nelos

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is mqttch free?
mqttch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nelos free?
Nelos is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do mqttch or Nelos have ads?
Neither mqttch nor Nelos shows ads.

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