# BLE Scanner 4.0 vs Proton Authenticator

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Proton Authenticator at none against BLE Scanner 4.0's 3. Proton Authenticator also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). BLE Scanner 4.0's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BLE Scanner 4.0 sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Proton Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for BLE Scanner 4.0 against 4.4 for Proton Authenticator. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 615 and 242 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 58% of BLE Scanner 4.0's written reviews are positive against 56% of Proton Authenticator's.

BLE Scanner 4.0 ships an update every 6 weeks, Proton Authenticator weekly. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BLE Scanner 4.0 | Proton Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (615 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ble-scanner-40-bluetooth-le/id1221763603/reviews) | **[4.4 (242 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-authenticator/id6741758667/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **615** | 242 |
| Positive reviews | **57.6% of reviews** | 55.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 29 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bluepixel Technologies LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1221763602) | [Proton AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/979659484) |

## What reviewers say

### BLE Scanner 4.0

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ble-scanner-40-bluetooth-le/id1221763603)

Explore and manage Bluetooth Low Energy devices with this comprehensive utility. Discover, connect, and analyze BLE signals, including iBeacon and Eddystone data. Ideal for developers and users tracking smart gadgets.

**Highlights:** Instant BLE device discovery with RSSI, Radar view for device distance visualization, Smart filtering by name, UUID, RSSI, and more, iBeacon and Eddystone scanning, Data export to CSV, Custom BLE advertising packet creation, Secure GATT service and characteristic exploration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Advertiser Plan | $2.99 | per month |
| Cloud Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Ultimate Subscription | $5.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Detects Bluetooth devices well
- 👍 Useful for development and testing
- 🔍 Helps find lost Bluetooth devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes or doesn't work on some devices
- 🤔 Unclear or confusing user interface
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with permissions

**Reported bugs**

- Stuck in update loop after latest version
- Search and filtering functions not working
- Crashes when trying to add new iBeacons

**Requested features**

- Add distance or location information for detected devices
- Improve filtering and sorting of detected devices
- Provide more detailed device information
- Add support for more Bluetooth device types


### Proton Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-authenticator/id6741758667)

Securely manage your two-factor authentication codes with an open-source, end-to-end encrypted authenticator app. It offers seamless cross-device syncing, effortless import from other apps, and robust backup options, all protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. Take control of your digital security with a trusted and private solution.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted iCloud sync, Effortless import from other authenticators, Secure backup and export, Swiss privacy by design, Open source and transparent, Offline support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Cross-platform support
- 🔒 Secure cloud sync
- 👍 Easy import from other authenticators
- 🚀 Convenient 'next' feature for codes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy UI (scrolling jitters, random sorting)
- 👎 Lack of customization options (pin favorites, change icons)
- 🐛 Sync/login issues on iPad

**Reported bugs**

- Sync/login loop on iPad
- 2FA input broken on non-iPhone devices
- Screen strobing on iPad
- Duplicate entries after import

**Requested features**

- PIN unlock for desktop
- Alphabetical sorting option
- Export function (not just Proton-specific backup)
- Native macOS app
- Option to hide item icons


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BLE Scanner 4.0 free?

BLE Scanner 4.0 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Proton Authenticator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BLE Scanner 4.0 or Proton Authenticator?

Proton Authenticator is rated higher. BLE Scanner 4.0 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 615 ratings, while Proton Authenticator averages 4.4 from 242 ratings.

### Do BLE Scanner 4.0 or Proton Authenticator have ads?

Neither BLE Scanner 4.0 nor Proton Authenticator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BLE Scanner 4.0 or Proton Authenticator?

BLE Scanner 4.0 ships an update every 6 weeks, and Proton Authenticator weekly. Most recently, BLE Scanner 4.0 was updated on October 16, 2026 and Proton Authenticator on October 16, 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.*