Comparison

Kio Setup Manager vs Phunware Locate

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Kio Setup Manager

Configure and monitor Kontakt.io IoT devices like beacons and gateways. This app connects to the Kio Cloud platform, allowing you to manage device settings, apply updates, and view real-time data. It's designed for onsite installation and troubleshooting of your Bluetooth LE devices.

Highlights
  • Onsite installation and configuration
  • Monitor IoT devices (beacons, tags, gateways)
  • Connect to Kio Cloud platform
  • Apply firmware and configuration updates
  • View device settings and battery levels
  • Real-time telemetry data
  • Troubleshooting and diagnostics
Features
Read full description

The Kio Setup Manager is for onsite installation, configuration, and monitoring of Kontakt.io IoT devices; including beacons, tags, and gateways. The app is integrated with the Kontakt.io Kio Cloud platform to provide a mobile-optimized connection to your Kio Cloud account devices. When you sign into the app using your Kio Cloud credentials, the app displays your devices and searches for Kontakt.io devices in Bluetooth range of your mobile device. From the app, you can: - Complete the in-app guided setup and installation of Kontakt.io Starter Kits, Portal Beams, Portal Lights, and Reference Beacons. - Search for and filter devices. - Synchronize devices to apply Kio Cloud pending configuration updates. - Apply available firmware updates. - View and update primary device settings. - View device battery levels and perform a battery reset after a battery replacement. - View real-time telemetry data. - Perform general troubleshooting and diagnostics. - Kio Cloud subscribers can manage multiple devices simultaneously using the Bulk Manage/Edit feature. NOTE: your mobile device requires an internet connection and Bluetooth must be enabled. Kontakt.io is the industry leader in indoor environmental, location and occupancy services using Bluetooth® Low Energy (Bluetooth® LE). Our mission is to deliver human-building interfaces that provide people with delightful, useful, and safe indoor experiences to help make building work for people.

About

Phunware Locate

This app enables users to set up and preview indoor navigation systems. It allows for the creation of paths, management of beacons, and fingerprinting of locations to enhance blue dot wayfinding accuracy for other mobile applications.

Highlights
  • Map setup for blue dot navigation
  • Path creation
  • Beacon management
  • Location fingerprinting
  • Blue dot experience preview
Read full description

The Phunware Locate app allows users to walk through the end to end experience of setting up their map for highly accurate blue dot navigation wayfinding. Within the app users can, at a floor level, create paths, manage beacons, walk to fingerprint, and preview the blue dot experience. The fingerprinted data is then used to present navigation and blue dot wayfinding for end users of mobile apps powered by Phunware Location Services. This app can only be used by users authorized by Phunware.

Screenshots

Kio Setup Manager4 screens
Phunware Locate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Phunware Locate at 4.7 against Kio Setup Manager's 4.2. Phunware Locate also leads on iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.0). Kio Setup Manager's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Phunware Locate holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 15 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kio Setup Manager ships an update every 3 weeks, Phunware Locate every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Kio Setup Manager versus Phunware Locate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKio Setup ManagerPhunware Locate
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (14 ratings)4.7 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings1415 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size233 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKontakt Sp. z o.o.Phunware, Inc

Customer experience

Kio Setup Manager

All ratings14 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative54.5%

Phunware Locate

All ratings15 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.7%

In-app purchases

None

Kio Setup Manager

No in-app purchases

None

Phunware Locate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Kio Setup Manager free?
Kio Setup Manager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Phunware Locate free?
Phunware Locate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Kio Setup Manager or Phunware Locate?
Phunware Locate is rated higher. Kio Setup Manager averages 4.2 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Phunware Locate averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.
Do Kio Setup Manager or Phunware Locate have ads?
Phunware Locate shows ads; Kio Setup Manager does not.
Which is updated more often, Kio Setup Manager or Phunware Locate?
Kio Setup Manager ships an update every 3 weeks, and Phunware Locate every 4 months. Most recently, Kio Setup Manager was updated on September 18, 2026 and Phunware Locate on June 1, 2026.

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