Bluetooth Terminal vs nRF Connect Device Manager
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Bluetooth Terminal
Prototype Bluetooth LE hardware by sending and receiving data in various formats. Inspect device services, characteristics, and values. Offers features like a button matrix for control and session export.
- Send data as ASCII, HEX, or Decimal
- View device services and characteristics
- Inspect device name, UUID, and RSSI
- Button matrix for sending commands
- Export session data as CSV
- Send current time as Unix timestamp
Read full descriptionHide full description
## Version 3 is now available ## With Bluetooth LE Terminal you can easily prototype your Bluetooth Smart enabled hardware. Send individual bytes encoded as ASCII, HEX or Decimal numbers and receive data from your hardware accessory. Test your data transfers even before having your own app! # More Features: • Send bytes as ASCII, HEX or Decimal • See device's services and characteristics and their associated values • Get information about your device such as name, UUID, and RSSI readings • Setup a button matrix (game controller) to send different data with just a tap. • Apple Watch support for button matrix • Send the current time as a unix timestamp (seconds since 1970) • Export current session as CSV • Use the app in split-view or slide-over on iPad If you have any questions about the app, or requests for features you would like to see, just write a short review or use the button inside the app to contact me! * Some features may require an optional one-time in app purchase.
nRF Connect Device Manager
This tool allows for the updating and management of devices running specific SDKs via Bluetooth LE. It supports features like firmware updates, file system access, and device reset.
- Firmware Update Over-The-Air (FOTA)
- File System Management
- Device Reset
- Logs & Stats
- Bluetooth LE Support
Read full descriptionHide full description
nRF Connect Device Manager is a generic tool for updating and managing devices running nRF Connect SDK supporting Device Manager module over Bluetooth LE (aka Management Subsystem, Mcu Manager, Bare Metal, SMP Server, SUIT). Features: * Basic: Echo, Reset * Firmware Update Over-The-Air (FOTA, DFU) * File System * Logs & stats Links: Source code: https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/IOS-nRF-Connect-Device-Manager * nRF Connect SDK: https://www.nordicsemi.com/Software-and-tools/Software/nRF-Connect-SDK * SMP Server Sample Doc: https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/zephyr/samples/subsys/mgmt/mcumgr/smp_svr/README.html#smp-svr-sample * McuManager: https://github.com/apache/mynewt-mcumgr * SMP over Bluetooth: https://github.com/apache/mynewt-mcumgr/blob/master/transport/smp-bluetooth.md
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: nRF Connect Device Manager at 100% against Bluetooth Terminal's 36%. nRF Connect Device Manager also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 7). Bluetooth Terminal's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (18 vs 2). On price and device support 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. Bluetooth Terminal sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. nRF Connect Device Manager asks for nothing beyond the download.
nRF Connect Device Manager holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bluetooth Terminal has 18 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Bluetooth Terminal's written reviews are positive against 100% of nRF Connect Device Manager's.
Bluetooth Terminal ships an update weekly, nRF Connect Device Manager every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bluetooth Terminal | nRF Connect Device Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (18 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 36.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 18 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #179 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lukas Pistrol | Nordic Semiconductor ASA |
Customer experience
Bluetooth Terminal
nRF Connect Device Manager
In-app purchases
Bluetooth Terminal
- Show RSSI Values$0.99
- Time Stamp$0.99
- Buy me 1 coffee$2.99
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Remove Ads$5.99
- Controller Buttons$5.99
- Buy me 2 coffees$5.99
- Buy me 3 coffees$11.99
nRF Connect Device Manager
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Bluetooth Terminal free?
Is nRF Connect Device Manager free?
Which has better reviews, Bluetooth Terminal or nRF Connect Device Manager?
Do Bluetooth Terminal or nRF Connect Device Manager have ads?
Which is updated more often, Bluetooth Terminal or nRF Connect Device Manager?
Other comparisons
