If you used goTenna Mesh and are comparing it to Meshtastic, the real question usually isn't "which protocol is better" - it's whether you want to manage a network yourself. If not, Nelos is worth trying first.
If you used goTenna Mesh and are looking for a replacement, Meshtastic almost certainly shows up on the list. Both are "a phone connected to a small radio for off-grid messaging," but how they do that differs considerably - and for most goTenna users, there's a simpler answer than either. Nelos is a modern app that connects your phone to a small compatible radio over Bluetooth, giving your group messaging, direct messages, everyone's location on an offline map, device trackers, and a Need Help button - close to the simplicity goTenna had, with more features and no single-vendor hardware lock-in. You can start using it for free.
goTenna Mesh is a commercial product that launched in 2016. One company designed both the hardware and the software, sold devices in pairs, and controlled the whole experience. The upside is that everything is packaged; the downside is that when the company changed direction, users had few options.
Meshtastic is an open-source, community-driven project that appeared later. There's no single official "Meshtastic device" - you flash the Meshtastic firmware onto commodity LoRa radio boards from various makers. The upside is not depending on a single company; the downside is you have to pick the hardware yourself and get comfortable with configuration.
| Criteria | goTenna Mesh | Meshtastic |
|---|---|---|
| Type of project | Commercial product (discontinued on the consumer side) | Open source, community-driven |
| Hardware | goTenna's own device, bought in pairs | Commodity LoRa boards from many makers, bought individually |
| Radio technology | Proprietary protocol on the shared 900 MHz band | LoRa (band varies by region) |
| Phone connection | Bluetooth | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cable |
| Messaging | Yes | Yes, with multiple encrypted channels |
| Location sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Maps in the app | Yes | Depends on the client app |
| Mesh | Every device relays, up to six hops | Every node rebroadcasts (flooding style) |
| Cost | Previously ~$179/pair; now only used units | Usually a few tens of dollars per device |
| Setup complexity | Low - install the app, pair | Moderate - pick hardware, flash firmware, configure |
| Current support | Discontinued on the consumer side since 2024 | Actively developed |
Hardware: goTenna Mesh was one company's device with no other option; Meshtastic runs on LoRa boards from several makers, which means more choice but also more research to pick one. Setup: a goTenna-style app is install-and-pair; Meshtastic takes a few more steps to pick a board and configure it for your region. Support: goTenna Mesh's consumer side is discontinued, while Meshtastic is still actively developed. Real-world range for both depends on terrain, obstacles and antennas rather than the protocol - see Are Mesh Networks Reliable?
Meshtastic fits people who like picking their own hardware, want to tune the network themselves, and see that as part of the value - not a chore.
Nelos fits almost everyone else: families, groups of friends, and anyone who wants a working group-communication app today rather than a network project. goTenna Mesh used to fit this group too, but it's no longer a realistic option for new buyers.
Most goTenna Mesh users didn't care whether the software underneath was open or closed. They liked that everything was simple: a tidy phone app, a pocket radio, and little to configure. Nelos is built for exactly that. Your phone connects over Bluetooth to a compatible radio, and you get group chat, direct messages, an identity that stays yours even if you swap radios, everyone's location on a preloaded offline map, device trackers, and a Need Help button - in a consumer-oriented app, not a network dashboard. You can start using Nelos for free.
And because compatible radios come from multiple manufacturers rather than one company, you're not locked into a single vendor's hardware the way goTenna users eventually were. The guide Best goTenna Mesh Alternatives in 2026 covers the other directions - Meshtastic, satellite devices - for people with a different need.
Nelos is an independent product, not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by goTenna. Names mentioned belong to their respective owners.
Nelos brings group messaging, location sharing, and a shared group map with location updates to LoRa mesh — with no cell service, no server, and no account.
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