Comparison

Greyline FT8 vs MeshCore Update

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

Head to head
About

Greyline FT8

This app provides a portable digital ham radio experience for field operations on iOS devices. It automates callsign lookups, displays real-time spot data, and offers automated calling or manual control for QSOs. Features include intelligent frequency selection, audio delay adjustment, and direct logging to QRZ.

Highlights
  • Field-ready digital ham radio
  • Automated callsign and DXCC lookups
  • Real-time PSK Reporter spot data
  • Automated CQ Gatherer and Hunter modes
  • Intelligent automatic frequency selection
  • Direct-to-QRZ logging and ADI export
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Greyline FT8 is a highly portable, capable amateur radio app designed specifically for field operation with an iOS device. I designed this app because I got very used to my full-stack FT8 solution: GridTracker, WSJT-X, PSK Reporter, WRL Desktop, several browser tabs, and more. But I didn't want the bulk and weight of a full Windows PC in the field. At the same time, while there are excellent and lightweight FT8 iOS solutions out there, they were lacking features I really wanted. Greyline is everything you need and nothing you don't. It automatically locates your grid square, performs callsign and calling station DXCC lookups (internet access required), and can even show you real-time spot data from PSK Reporter. Want to adjust your directional antenna? Now you've got the info you need to do it! Greyline also incorporates automated calling features. Gatherer mode calls CQ, responds to the first reply it gets, finishes the QSO and returns to calling CQ all without your input. On the other side of things, Hunter mode listens for CQ calls and pounces on them, finishing a QSO then returning to the live band to find the next. Or, take control of the conversation yourself with standard mode. That's the experience you're already used to from WSJT-X and other digital mode apps. Some other noteworthy features are: - Intelligent automatic free frequency selection - Dynamically adjusted audio delay for virtually drift-free message timing - PSK Reporter integrated Live Spots - Direct-to-QRZ, WRL and private Cloudlog logging and ADI export - Configurable waterfall settings - CQ addendums - CQ filtering for contesting and general courteous operation - Configurable retransmissions - Intelligent log recovery (didn't get that last 73 but want to log the contact anyway? Now you can!) - Log import and export - Antenna tuning - POTA Autospotting - One touch POTA activation and POTA.app-compatible ADIF export - Multiple POTA activation support - And so much more! Greyline uses audio VOX and not serial PTT. Most radios support this with simple cabling or an audio interface like a Digirig. For helpful tips on cabling and configuring popular radios, visit the Support URL below. Built by a ham, for hams, I'm very open to your feedback and hope Greyline can be your field companion. Want to share your own Field Notes (https://greylineft8.com/fieldnotes.html)? Email me at support@greylineft8.com!

About

MeshCore Update

This utility app facilitates firmware updates for compatible MeshCore repeater devices. It supports both Bluetooth DFU and Wi-Fi OTA update methods, allowing users to download firmware, manage local files, and initiate the update process.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth DFU updates
  • Wi-Fi OTA updates
  • Check official firmware releases
  • Download firmware packages
  • Local firmware file management
  • Scan for compatible devices
Features
Read full description

MeshCore Update is a hardware utility app for updating supported MeshCore repeater devices. The app supports two firmware update methods: • Bluetooth DFU for supported nRF52-based MeshCore devices • Wi-Fi OTA for supported ESP32-based MeshCore devices You can select a supported hardware target, check official MeshCore firmware releases, download matching firmware packages, keep firmware files locally on your iPhone, and start the update flow from one place. For Bluetooth DFU devices, the app scans for compatible OTA / DFU devices and uploads the selected firmware package over Bluetooth. For ESP32 devices, the app connects to the device’s MeshCore OTA Wi-Fi access point and uploads the selected firmware using the device’s local OTA update interface. No login or account is required. Full firmware update testing requires supported MeshCore hardware. Without hardware, you can still browse supported targets, check official releases, download firmware files, and manage the local firmware repository.

Screenshots

Greyline FT84 screens
MeshCore Update3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MeshCore Update at Free against Greyline FT8's $3.99. MeshCore Update also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 90%). Greyline FT8's advantage is chart position (#132 vs unranked) and ratings volume (15 vs 3). On rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

MeshCore Update is free to download; Greyline FT8 costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Greyline FT8 against 5.0 for MeshCore Update. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Greyline FT8 has 15 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of Greyline FT8's written reviews are positive against 100% of MeshCore Update's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Greyline FT8 versus MeshCore Update: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGreyline FT8MeshCore Update
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (15 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings15 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#132 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.526.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJONATHAN MARK SCHULMANAleksandrs Sergejevs

Customer experience

Greyline FT8

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative0.0%

MeshCore Update

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Greyline FT8

No in-app purchases

None

MeshCore Update

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Greyline FT8 free?
Greyline FT8 costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MeshCore Update free?
MeshCore Update is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Greyline FT8 or MeshCore Update?
MeshCore Update is rated higher. Greyline FT8 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while MeshCore Update averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Greyline FT8 or MeshCore Update have ads?
Neither Greyline FT8 nor MeshCore Update shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Greyline FT8 or MeshCore Update?
Greyline FT8 ships an update every 4 days, and MeshCore Update every 4 days. Most recently, Greyline FT8 was updated on October 31, 2026 and MeshCore Update on October 31, 2026.

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