micro vs Open Roberta Mobile
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
micro
This app is the essential companion for the BBC micro:bit, a pocket-sized programmable computer. It allows you to wirelessly beam programs to your micro:bit via Bluetooth and includes access to a block-based programming editor. Monitor sensor data and control your micro:bit in real-time.
- Wireless flashing of micro:bit hex files
- Access to Microsoft MakeCode editor
- Bluetooth beaming of programs
- Real-time sensor data monitoring
- Control micro:bit buttons and pins
- Debug running program code
- Store and manage HEX files
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The micro:bit app is the essential companion to the BBC micro:bit, the pocket sized programmable computer. The app allows you to flash any micro:bit hex file to your device, as well as including online access to the Microsoft MakeCode editor for simple block-based programming. When your program is ready, the app beams it to the micro:bit via Bluetooth wirelessly. Easy-to-follow screens lead you through the process of pairing your iPad (or iPhone) to the micro:bit and then transferring your program code. Compared with previous versions, the micro:bit app Version 3.1 contains these additional features: • A simpler pairing and micro:bit discovery flow • The micro:bit V2 can be put into pairing mode by triple-tapping the reset button • Retrieval of the micro:bit data log files from off your micro:bit • Pair with any number of micro:bits • Choose which micro:bit is currently connected • Store HEX files in the app • Choose a HEX file for flashing • Export and delete HEX files • Import stored HEX files directly into JavaScript Blocks editor • Rapid download from JavaScript Blocks editor • Monitor data detected by micro:bit sensors • Use the range of micro:bit Bluetooth services in real time • Display messages on the micro:bit LEDs • Send control commands to the micro:bit buttons and pins • De-bug your program code while it is running in the micro:bit • Use a simulated gamepad to send commands to the micro:bit • View camera images ready for taking photos or video As well as providing more flexible handling of your program scripts and HEX files, a major addition in Version 3 is the Monitor and Control page. This lets you observe real-time data from the micro:bit sensors, send messages directly to the LEDs and control the micro:bit buttons and pins from your iPad or iPhone. Monitor is ideal for exploiting Bluetooth services in real time, and for de-bugging your program code while it is running in the micro:bit. The MakeCode code editor now requires iOS 13 or later.
Open Roberta Mobile
Visually program robots and microcontrollers using a drag-and-drop interface. Wirelessly transfer your creations to compatible hardware like LEGO Education WeDo 2.0 via Bluetooth. Explore a gallery of shared programs and access live coding help.
- Visual programming language (NEPO®)
- Robot and microcontroller control
- Wireless Bluetooth transfer
- Program sharing gallery
- Live coding help
- Multi-language support
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Code and play – welcome to the Open Roberta Lab, where you bring robots and microcontrollers to life. By “dragging and dropping” the visual programming language NEPO® you can quickly and playfully create programs for different systems, e.g. the LEGO® Education WeDo 2.0. The “Open Roberta mobile” app enables you to transfer your NEPO programs to the WeDo 2.0 wirelessly via Bluetooth – no matter whether you are using a smartphone or a tablet. Open Roberta comes with many extras • One programming language for many robots • Gallery for sharing programs • Live help for a quick introduction to coding • Source view • Various languages for users worldwide • And many more
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: micro at 3.3 against Open Roberta Mobile's 1.7. micro also leads on ratings volume (89 vs 3). Open Roberta Mobile's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 7 months) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 12.0). 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.
micro holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: micro has 89 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.
micro ships an update every 7 months, Open Roberta Mobile every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | micro | Open Roberta Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (89 ratings) — better | 1.7 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 43.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 89 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 9.3 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Micro:bit Educational Foundation | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung eingetragener Verein |
Customer experience
micro
Open Roberta Mobile
Bugs and requests
micro
Reported bugs
14 issues- Bluetooth pairing fails or shows false success
- App crashes when flashing code to micro:bit
- Connection lost after code flashing
- White screen display issue
- Login fails with Google accounts
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- Text strings display with extra characters
- Arrow keys non-functional on iPad with Bluetooth
- Pairing pattern entry buggy and unclear
- Safari crashes on iPad 2
- Keyboard blocks code naming on iPhone
- App crashes when sending feedback
- Screen freezes during use
- Recent update broke existing micro:bit connections
- Flashing takes excessive time (1+ minute)
Requested features
11 requests- Offline mode for iOS
- Integrated IDE in app instead of Safari redirect
- Support for multiple languages
- Persistent Bluetooth connection after flashing
- Mute audio functionality
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- Better pairing instructions
- USB cable connection alternative to Bluetooth
- Improved project save/storage duration
- WebKit Safari view controller integration
- Support for actual MicroPython instead of MakeCode Python
- Device statements for camera operations
Open Roberta Mobile
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
micro
No in-app purchases
Open Roberta Mobile
No in-app purchases









