# Proximity vs Meshtastic

The clearest difference is price: Meshtastic at Free against Proximity's $1.99. Meshtastic also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (833 vs 1). Proximity's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.5). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Meshtastic is free to download; Proximity costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Proximity holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Meshtastic has 833 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of Proximity's written reviews are positive against 44% of Meshtastic's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Proximity ships an update every 14 months, Meshtastic every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Proximity | Meshtastic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proximity-access-card-calc/id774601885/reviews)** | [4.1 (833 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshtastic/id1586432531/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **833** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **44.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 1 MB | 142 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Farren Domenici](https://appshunter.io/developer/583666476) | [Meshtastic LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1586432533) |

## What reviewers say

### Proximity

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proximity-access-card-calc/id774601885)

This utility helps determine the correct number and facility code for access cards or fobs. It converts binary or hexadecimal card values into usable data, and can also reverse the process by generating binary values from facility codes and card numbers.

**Highlights:** Binary to number conversion, Hexadecimal to number conversion, Number to binary generation, Supports multiple bit lengths, Supports numerous card formats, Reverse calculation functionality

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Meshtastic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meshtastic/id1586432531)

This app enables off-grid, decentralized communication via a low-power mesh network. Send text messages in areas lacking cellular or WiFi service.

**Highlights:** Off-grid communication, Decentralized mesh network, Low-power LoRa radio support, Text messaging, No cellular/WiFi required

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Well-made app
- 🚀 Polished and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Powerful features for off-grid communication
- 👍 Great community and responsive developers
- 👍 Continuously improving with updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bluetooth connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable messaging and node connections
- 🐛 Crashes and stability problems
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Lacking feature parity with Android version

**Reported bugs**

- Canned messages configuration issues
- Location sharing and traceroute functions not working
- Settings screen bugs and crashes
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between devices

**Requested features**

- Offline maps support
- Ability to customize notifications
- More sorting and filtering options for nodes
- Apple Watch and Shortcuts integration
- Improved documentation and user guidance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Proximity free?

Proximity costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Meshtastic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Proximity or Meshtastic?

Proximity is rated higher. Proximity averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Meshtastic averages 4.1 from 833 ratings.

### Do Proximity or Meshtastic have ads?

Neither Proximity nor Meshtastic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Proximity or Meshtastic?

Proximity ships an update every 14 months, and Meshtastic every 10 days. Most recently, Proximity was updated on October 17, 2026 and Meshtastic on October 25, 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.*