BLE Joystick vs Bluetooth Serial Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BLE Joystick
Control connected hardware devices wirelessly using Bluetooth Low Energy. Supports iOS devices like iPhone and iPad, and specific BLE modules. Preview demos are available online.
- Wireless hardware control
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support
- iOS device compatibility (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch)
- Support for BLE-LINK and HM-10 modules
- Demo videos available
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# BLE Joystick Transform your iOS Device into a professional Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device controller. BLE Joystick lets you connect to and control ESP32, Arduino, Raspberry Pi Pico W, nRF52, robots, RC cars, IoT projects, and other BLE-enabled hardware directly from your iOS device. Designed for inventors, engineers, students, and hobbyists, the BLE Joystick features a responsive dual-joystick gamepad interface with customizable buttons and real-time Bluetooth Low Energy communication. Features: • Scans and connects to nearby BLE devices • Directional control buttons • D-Pad (transmits custom character data via normal and long-press button presses) • 4 Action Buttons (transmits custom character data via normal and long-press button presses) • Real-time BLE data transmission • Adjustable update rate • Game-style dark user interface • Haptic feedback support • Low-latency communication • Compatible with ESP32, Arduino, Raspberry Pi Pico W, nRF52, and other BLE devices Use Cases: • ESP32 remote control • Arduino BLE controller • Robot controller • RC car controller • Tank controller • Servo controller • IoT device controller • DIY electronics projects • Home automation control • Educational BLE experiments Why BLE JOYSTICK? Unlike traditional Bluetooth controllers, BLE Joystick is optimized for modern low-power devices and embedded systems. It provides a simple and reliable way to transmit joystick and button data from your phone to microcontrollers and custom hardware. Access Permissions Bluetooth access is required to find, connect to, and communicate with nearby BLE devices. This app does not collect personal data and does not require a user account.
Bluetooth Serial Connect
Control your Arduino projects with your phone. Design custom interfaces with buttons, joysticks, and displays to send and receive data via Bluetooth low-energy modules. An integrated library simplifies the connection process.
- Customizable control boards
- Button and joystick inputs
- Display integration
- Bluetooth low-energy module support
- Arduino library for easy integration
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Turn your iPhone or iPad into a custom control panel for Arduino and BLE projects, without building a dedicated iOS app. Bluetooth Serial Connect lets you design a board, connect to an HM-10-style Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) UART module, and exchange commands and live readouts with your hardware. The companion Bluetooth Serial Connect Arduino library makes it straightforward to read controls and update displays, indicators, and gauges in your sketch. DESIGN YOUR BOARD Place, move, resize, and customize nine component types: • Buttons with momentary, latch, and repeat behavior • Joysticks, sliders, toggles, and D-pads • Text displays, labels, indicators, and gauges Assign channel numbers that stay fixed when you rearrange controls. Fine-tune colors, labels, value ranges, board appearance, and haptic feedback. Undo and redo changes, duplicate and lock controls, snap them to the grid, and adjust their front-to-back order. START WITH TEMPLATES AND EXAMPLES Explore seven editable board templates for RC cars, robotic arms, menu remotes, sensor hubs, smart-home relays, and more. Companion Arduino sketches and protocol examples help you connect the app to your code. Follow the interactive walkthrough or try a board with simulated data—no hardware required. Import, export, share, and duplicate boards as your projects grow. CONNECT AND TROUBLESHOOT Scan for nearby BLE devices, follow clear connection progress, remember frequently used modules for quick reconnecting, and configure service and characteristic UUIDs. Use the timestamped two-way console to inspect sent and received messages or send console text while you troubleshoot. Setup guides, wiring help, complete examples, and the wire protocol reference are available at bluetooth.henhen1227.com. Bluetooth Serial Connect is designed for HM-10-style BLE modules. Other BLE UART hardware may work when its service and characteristic UUIDs match the app settings. HC-05 and HC-06 Bluetooth Classic modules are not supported. A compatible BLE module is required for live hardware control. FREE OR PRO Start with one board free. Add more by watching rewarded ads, or unlock Bluetooth Serial Pro with a one-time in-app purchase for unlimited boards and no ads. The free version may also show occasional ads after edits. Existing boards remain available to use. No app account is required. Board files stay on your device unless you choose to share them.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Bluetooth Serial Connect at 3.7 against BLE Joystick's 3.0. Bluetooth Serial Connect also leads on update cadence (every 10 months vs every 63 months). BLE Joystick's advantage is review sentiment (33% vs 0%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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.
Bluetooth Serial Connect holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of BLE Joystick's written reviews are positive against 0% of Bluetooth Serial Connect's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
BLE Joystick ships an update every 63 months, Bluetooth Serial Connect every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and July 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BLE Joystick | Bluetooth Serial Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (12 ratings) | 3.7 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 63 months | Every 10 months — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 16.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | nakhon phagdeechat | Henry Abrahamsen |
Customer experience
BLE Joystick
Bluetooth Serial Connect
In-app purchases
BLE Joystick
No in-app purchases
Bluetooth Serial Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BLE Joystick free?
Is Bluetooth Serial Connect free?
Which has better reviews, BLE Joystick or Bluetooth Serial Connect?
Do BLE Joystick or Bluetooth Serial Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, BLE Joystick or Bluetooth Serial Connect?
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