# micro vs Halo AR

The clearest difference is rating: Halo AR at 4.6 against micro's 3.3. Halo AR also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 7 months) and review sentiment (70% vs 43%). micro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Halo AR sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. micro asks for nothing beyond the download.

Halo AR holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 90 and 364 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of micro's written reviews are positive against 70% of Halo AR's.

micro ships an update every 7 months, Halo AR fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | micro | Halo AR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (90 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microbit/id1092687276/reviews) | **[4.6 (364 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halo-ar-3d-experience-maker/id1534359793/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 90 | **364** |
| Positive reviews | 42.6% of reviews | **70.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 59 MB | 272 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Micro:bit Educational Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484783422) | [LightUp](https://appshunter.io/developer/817956892) |

## What reviewers say

### micro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microbit/id1092687276)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and quick to set up
- 💻 Allows coding on mobile devices
- 🎓 Great for learning and education
- ⚡ Fast download and installation
- 🔧 Works well once properly configured

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent Bluetooth pairing failures
- 🐛 App crashes during code flashing
- 🐛 Connection drops after flashing
- 📱 Poor optimization for phone screens
- 🔌 Requires frequent device reconnection

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Offline mode for iOS
- Integrated IDE in app instead of Safari redirect
- Support for multiple languages
- Persistent Bluetooth connection after flashing
- Mute audio functionality


### Halo AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halo-ar-3d-experience-maker/id1534359793)

Easily create and share interactive 3D augmented reality experiences without coding. Bring your ideas to life by scanning objects, uploading content, and attaching AR to real-world locations or images. Ideal for educators, artists, and businesses.

**Highlights:** Instant AR creation, No coding required, 3D object and image recognition, Attach AR to real-world objects/locations, Easy sharing and collaboration, Immersive AR lessons

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Creator Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Creator Pro (Annual) | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to create AR experiences
- 👍 Simple for others to view
- 💡 Great for educational purposes
- 👍 Free version has good features
- 💡 Innovative mixed reality features coming

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App won't open after update
- 🐛 App won't open
- 🐛 Download takes 6 hours
- 🐛 Useless download
- 🐛 Cannot rescan anything

**Reported bugs**

- App won't open
- App won't open after update
- Cannot rescan anything
- Overheats phone
- Requires following users to see results

**Requested features**

- Evolving the app further
- Clearer instructions for educational use
- Ability to download own images from Google
- Ability to create own images
- Integrating Sketchfab models more easily


## Frequently asked questions

### Is micro free?

micro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Halo AR free?

Halo AR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, micro or Halo AR?

Halo AR is rated higher. micro averages 3.3 out of 5 from 90 ratings, while Halo AR averages 4.6 from 364 ratings.

### Do micro or Halo AR have ads?

Neither micro nor Halo AR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, micro or Halo AR?

micro ships an update every 7 months, and Halo AR fortnightly. Most recently, micro was updated on October 13, 2026 and Halo AR on October 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*