# aprs.fi vs Mesh World

The clearest difference is review sentiment: aprs.fi at 70% against Mesh World's 0%. aprs.fi also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.7) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 3). Mesh World's advantage is price (Free vs $6.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Mesh World is free to download; aprs.fi costs $6.99 up front. aprs.fi sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Mesh World sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

aprs.fi holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: aprs.fi has 1.2K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of aprs.fi's written reviews are positive against 0% of Mesh World's.

aprs.fi ships an update fortnightly, Mesh World weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | aprs.fi | Mesh World |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $6.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aprsfi/id922155038/reviews)** | [1.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mesh-world-mesh-made-simple/id6747457936/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **70.4% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#27** | — |
| Size | 28 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [GainIO](https://appshunter.io/developer/922155037) | [Meshworld LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6803970761) |

## What reviewers say

### aprs.fi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aprsfi/id922155038)

**Currently charting:** #27 Top Paid · Navigation (US App Store)

Access real-time APRS position data, weather reports, and telemetry graphs globally. Offers route guidance, station tracking, and map filtering. Some advanced features require an in-app subscription.

**Highlights:** Real-time APRS position data, Route guidance and driving directions, Search callsigns and addresses, Track multiple stations, Filter map information, View weather and telemetry graphs, Beacon your position

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extra features, monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Extra features, yearly | $6.49 | per year |
| Extra features, fair trade | $13.49 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Solid product
- 👍 Works great with external hardware
- 💡 Useful for public service events
- 🚀 Reliable way to participate in APRS network
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Beaconing issues (inconsistent timing, lack of smart beaconing)
- 🔒 Messaging requires subscription
- 💰 Expensive for limited functionality
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Subscription required for full features

**Reported bugs**

- Beacon not clickable
- Freezing on settings screen
- Incompatible with older iOS versions
- Inconsistent behavior with VOX on radios

**Requested features**

- Offline maps support
- Ability to change nickname without creating new account
- Smart beaconing mode
- Bulk message deletion
- CarPlay support


### Mesh World

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mesh-world-mesh-made-simple/id6747457936)

This app provides a premium mesh networking experience, supporting both Meshtastic and MeshCore protocols. It offers real-time user tracking, offline maps, encrypted messaging, and node management capabilities for various outdoor and community use cases.

**Highlights:** Dual Meshtastic and MeshCore protocol support, Real-time user and group tracking, Offline maps and waypoint sharing, Private encrypted direct and group messaging, Bluetooth device pairing and configuration, Channel management with permissions

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Pro Annual Subscription | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is aprs.fi free?

aprs.fi costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Mesh World free?

Mesh World is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, aprs.fi or Mesh World?

aprs.fi is rated higher. aprs.fi averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Mesh World averages 1.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do aprs.fi or Mesh World have ads?

Neither aprs.fi nor Mesh World shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, aprs.fi or Mesh World?

aprs.fi ships an update fortnightly, and Mesh World weekly. Most recently, aprs.fi was updated on November 1, 2026 and Mesh World on October 24, 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.*