DataExchanger vs nRF Mesh
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DataExchanger
This application enables the transmission and reception of serial data via Bluetooth to a compatible wireless adaptor. It offers features like automatic connection, data transmission, and link performance monitoring.
- Bluetooth serial data transfer
- Auto-connect to adaptor
- Transmit typed data
- Receive data
- Round trip data test
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Users can use this app to send and receive serial data through Bluetooth to the Data Exchanger Bluetooth Smart (Low Energy) wireless adaptor. Features - Auto connect to Data Exchanger Bluetooth Smart (Low Energy) wireless adaptor - Transmit user typed data to the adaptor's UART output port - Display data received from the adaptor's UART input port - Round trip data transfer test for link performance monitoring Minimum iOS and device requirements - iOS 9.0 - iPhone 4s, 5, 5s, 6, 6s, 7, 8
nRF Mesh
Easily deploy and manage Bluetooth Mesh networks. Control individual nodes, configure network settings, and update device firmware remotely. Supports a wide range of BLE devices compatible with Bluetooth Mesh.
- Node provisioning and identification
- Remote provisioning capabilities
- Network and application key configuration
- Node control via various server models
- Device firmware updates
- Granular control over publication data and subscriptions
- Explore node capabilities and security settings
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nRF Mesh allows you to easily deploy nodes to any Bluetooth Mesh compatible Nodes, giving you flexibility to deploy many different Mesh network Setups. Features: • Identifying: Identify a node before provisioning it. • Provisioning: Deployment of a new Node is as simple as a press of a button. All Out-Of-Band (OOB) methods are supported. • Remote Provisioning: Allows provisioning Nodes that are too faw to reach them directly. • Configuration: Create Network and Application keys or use the randomly generated ones, subscribe to groups and setup your nodes for publishing. • Node Control: Control nodes with Generic OnOff Server, Generic Level Server, Generic OnPowerUp Server, Scene Server and many other models. • Device Firmware Update: Quickly send a new firmware to the Distributor and observe it slowly distributing it to all the nodes. Additionally, you may also run the following configuration commands on your network: • Fully control node publication data. All publication parameters are configurable. • Add/Remove one or more subscription addresses on a model. • Create own AppKeys, or generate them using the builtin crypto-safe generator. • Bind/unbind an Application Key to a specific model for full granular control of your networks' security. • Explore the nodes' capabilities to view all elements, models, provisioning time and date, Manufacturer and available vendor data. • Set the Default TTL on a per-node basis. • Manage global AppKey list on a node. • And much more... Hardware support: - This version of the app is capable of communicating with any BLE devices that speak Bluetooth Mesh! - We recommend nRF5 devices with our nRF SDK for Mesh or nRF Connect SDK.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: DataExchanger at 5.0 against nRF Mesh's 4.0. DataExchanger also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). nRF Mesh's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
DataExchanger holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.
DataExchanger ships an update every 3 months, nRF Mesh every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DataExchanger | nRF Mesh |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 30.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | GT-tronics | Nordic Semiconductor ASA |
Customer experience
DataExchanger
nRF Mesh
In-app purchases
DataExchanger
No in-app purchases
nRF Mesh
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is DataExchanger free?
Is nRF Mesh free?
Which has better reviews, DataExchanger or nRF Mesh?
Do DataExchanger or nRF Mesh have ads?
Which is updated more often, DataExchanger or nRF Mesh?
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