MeshCore vs Meshtastic Comparison

When it comes to off-grid LoRa mesh networking, Meshtastic and MeshCore are two names you’ll hear often. Both let you send text messages and GPS data over long distances without cell service. Both use inexpensive LoRa radio devices. And both build a decentralized mesh network where messages hop directly from device to device.

So what’s the difference? This comparison breaks down how Meshtastic and MeshCore differ and helps you figure out which one might suit your needs. We’ll keep it beginner-friendly and focus on practical differences that matter.

The Two Platforms

Meshtastic is the older and more widely adopted platform. Started in 2019 by an open-source community, Meshtastic has grown into a popular choice for hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and hobbyists. It turns small LoRa gadgets into a “walkie-talkie” style mesh: everyone can send/receive messages, and all devices help relay messages for each other. Meshtastic is known for being simple and great for ad-hoc situations (friends on a ski trip, neighbors during a power outage).

MeshCore is a newer project (launched in 2025) with a different philosophy. While it has the same basic goal-off-grid LoRa messaging-MeshCore’s design focuses on structured, scalable networks. It introduces specialized device roles (more on that below) to make large networks more efficient. MeshCore is being adopted by folks building bigger or more permanent mesh setups (community meshes covering a neighborhood or town) with an emphasis on reliability and controlled routing.

Important: Meshtastic and MeshCore are not compatible with each other. A device running Meshtastic can’t directly talk to a device running MeshCore, even though both use LoRa radios. You’ll pick one platform and use it for all your nodes.

Both MeshCore and Meshtastic support a wide range of affordable LoRa devices. Image via CNX Software.

Network Design: Flood vs Structured

The biggest difference between Meshtastic and MeshCore is how messages are routed through the mesh.

Meshtastic: Flood-Style Routing

Every node in a Meshtastic network can act as a router. When you send a message, all nearby devices pick it up and forward it, then those devices forward it further. Meshtastic uses a “flooding” approach-messages propagate by bouncing through multiple ordinary nodes.

A message might hop device → device → device until reaching the recipient. This makes Meshtastic networks very dynamic. If nodes move around (a group of hikers spreads out), the network re-routes through whichever nodes are available.

The trade-off: this generates redundant traffic. Many devices might transmit the same message, and they have to coordinate to avoid endless repeats. Meshtastic drops duplicates automatically, but the network can get busy in larger groups as every node helps rebroadcast.

MeshCore: Controlled Routing

MeshCore takes a more controlled approach. By default, only specific nodes called repeaters forward messages, while regular user devices (called “companions”) do not rebroadcast others’ messages.

Think of it like a highway system: repeaters are the main junctions that move traffic long-distance, and companion devices are local streets that don’t carry through-traffic. If you send a message on MeshCore and the destination isn’t in direct radio range, the message must go through one or more repeaters to get delivered.

Repeaters use a controlled flooding algorithm to pass messages efficiently, without involving every device. This dramatically reduces unnecessary transmissions-your personal device isn’t being used as a relay for everyone else’s messages. This leads to faster delivery and less radio congestion. The downside: MeshCore really needs those dedicated repeater nodes in place to cover large distances, whereas Meshtastic can sometimes get by with just user nodes.

Summary: Meshtastic is a true peer-to-peer mesh where any node can relay messages-great for spontaneous, moving networks. MeshCore is a hybrid where end-user nodes talk to repeaters, and repeaters talk to other repeaters. More structured, more efficient if you plan your network with well-placed repeaters.

Message Hops and Range

Because of these different designs, there are differences in how far messages can hop:

• Meshtastic by default limits messages to 3 hops (configurable up to 7). Usually plenty for personal use-imagine a chain of 3-7 devices relaying a message. But if you wanted to cover an entire city with dozens of hops, Meshtastic might hit a limit.

• MeshCore can handle up to 64 hops. This gives headroom if you’re trying to stretch across a widespread area with multiple repeaters.

For beginners: MeshCore can cover a larger area if you deploy enough repeaters, whereas Meshtastic networks might top out after a handful of relay steps. Most small meshes won’t need anywhere near 64 hops, but the capacity is there for ambitious projects.

More hops introduce delay and more chances for something to go wrong. Both systems balance hop count with reliability. For typical uses (a neighborhood or backcountry team), Meshtastic’s default of 3 hops works fine. For a much bigger mesh (linking communities across a region), MeshCore’s approach might scale better.

Speed and Network Traffic

How responsive is the network? How much background traffic is happening?

Meshtastic

Because every node can forward messages and many periodically broadcast telemetry (battery status, location, etc.), the radio channel can get busy as nodes grow. Meshtastic devices send out data to let others know they’re alive (this helps with map tracking).

With many nodes, you’ll hear background chirps, and messages might take a couple seconds to propagate as each node waits its turn to forward. Meshtastic prioritizes simplicity and letting you know about other nodes, at the cost of some network chatter.

MeshCore

MeshCore minimizes background traffic and maximizes throughput. By default, nodes rarely broadcast telemetry unless asked. Repeaters send occasional announcements (“adverts”) on a slow schedule, but there isn’t constant chatter from every device.

Since only repeaters forward messages, fewer devices contend to transmit at any time. Users often report MeshCore messages go through faster because the channel is quieter and messages take a more direct path via dedicated repeaters. MeshCore feels faster in many scenarios, especially as a network grows.

For a small mesh of just a few devices, you might not notice much difference. As you add more nodes, MeshCore’s network stays more responsive, whereas with Meshtastic you might need to tune settings (like telemetry frequency) to keep things zippy.

App Interfaces

Both platforms have mobile apps for sending messages and managing devices:

The Meshtastic Android app showing the main navigation and connected device. Image via Meshtastic.

The MeshCore app showing a public channel conversation. Image via Michael Lynch.

Meshtastic has apps for Android, iOS, and a web interface. The app shows all nodes on your mesh, their locations on a map, and lets you send messages to individuals or channels. MeshCore’s app (Android, iOS, and web) has a similar layout but focuses on Contacts and Discover screens since device discovery works differently.

When to Choose Each

Both are excellent-they just have different strengths.

Choose Meshtastic if:

• Casual personal use or small groups: Something for weekend hikes, bike rides, skiing trips, or experimenting around your neighborhood. Very plug-and-play: flash the devices, install the app, start chatting.
• Your group is mobile: Meshtastic shines when your group is moving or mesh membership constantly changes. Every device extends the network on the fly-ideal for ad-hoc situations.
• You value community support: Being around longer, Meshtastic has a large community and lots of documentation. Many guides and ready-made devices available.
• Open-source matters: Meshtastic is fully open-source, whereas some parts of MeshCore’s ecosystem are proprietary.

Choose MeshCore if:

• Planned networks and fixed installations: If your goal is covering a larger area with infrastructure-a community mesh across a town, or coverage throughout a big rural property-MeshCore might fit better.
• You can deploy dedicated repeaters: Place a few repeater nodes in strategic spots (high on a roof or hill) and your handheld devices will have a strong backbone to route messages.
• You need store-and-forward: MeshCore’s Room Server feature stores messages when recipients are offline and delivers them later. Meshtastic doesn’t have this built-in.
• Network efficiency matters: For larger deployments, MeshCore’s quieter network and controlled routing handle more users more reliably.

MeshCore Device Roles

MeshCore uses three distinct device roles. Unlike Meshtastic where every device can relay by default, MeshCore separates user devices from infrastructure.

Companion - Your personal device paired with a phone or computer. Companions send and receive your messages but do not relay other people’s traffic. This saves battery and keeps the airwaves clear.

Repeater - A dedicated relay node that forwards messages between devices that can’t reach each other directly. Repeaters use smart routing and typically run on continuous power (solar or USB). Place them high to maximize coverage.

Room Server - A message store that holds messages for offline users. When someone’s out of range, the room server keeps their messages until they reconnect. Room servers can also act as repeaters (“room-peater” mode). They’re password-protected by default (change it from “hello”).

Role	Purpose	Relays?	Stores?
Companion	Personal device	No	No
Repeater	Extend range	Yes	No
Room Server	Offline mailbox	Optional	Yes

MeshCore has separate firmware builds for each role at flasher.meshcore.co.uk.

Standalone Devices

Both platforms support standalone devices with built-in screens and keyboards, so you don’t always need a phone. The LILYGO T-Deck is a popular choice that runs either firmware.

Left: T-Deck running Meshtastic (Jeff Geerling). Right: T-Deck running MeshCore (Michael Lynch).

A standalone option is useful for emergencies when your phone battery dies or you want a dedicated mesh radio. The T-Deck includes a physical keyboard, trackball, and touchscreen-though the user experience differs between firmwares.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one “best” platform-it depends on your needs. Many beginners start with Meshtastic to get familiar with LoRa mesh basics because it’s straightforward and well-documented. If you later find you need more scale or want to experiment with structured networks, you can explore MeshCore.

The good news: both run on similar affordable hardware, so you’re not locked in by your device. Just remember that all nodes in your mesh must run the same platform’s firmware to talk to each other.

Whichever you choose, you’ll be joining a growing world of off-grid communicators. Both communities are welcoming, and since Meshtastic and MeshCore aim for the same goal, there’s a lot of shared knowledge between them. Some enthusiasts keep nodes on each network for different purposes. Feel free to try both if you’re curious!

Ready to dive deeper? Learn what a LoRa mesh network is, or check out our resources page for hardware recommendations.