# Bolt IoT vs IoT MQTT Panel

The clearest difference is review sentiment: IoT MQTT Panel at 85% against Bolt IoT's 43%. IoT MQTT Panel also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.8) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). Bolt IoT's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

IoT MQTT Panel holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IoT MQTT Panel has 44 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Bolt IoT's written reviews are positive against 85% of IoT MQTT Panel's.

Bolt IoT ships an update every 5 weeks, IoT MQTT Panel fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bolt IoT | IoT MQTT Panel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bolt-iot/id1222570767/reviews) | **[4.8 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iot-mqtt-panel/id6466780124/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **44** |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **85.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 16 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bolt IoT](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439797929) | [Rahul Kundu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1707792906) |

## What reviewers say

### Bolt IoT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bolt-iot/id1222570767)

Easily connect and manage your IoT devices. View data graphs, control actuators, and receive alerts. The app provides an intuitive step-by-step Wi-Fi setup for your devices.

**Highlights:** Connect Bolt IoT devices to WiFi, Manage and control devices, View device data graphs, Receive push notifications for alerts, Intuitive Wi-Fi setup process, Control actuators like motors and lights

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### IoT MQTT Panel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iot-mqtt-panel/id6466780124)

Create DIY smart home projects quickly with a configurable dashboard. This app supports MQTT and Websocket protocols with SSL for secure communication. It offers real-time updates, customizable panels with over 250 icons, and various data visualization options.

**Highlights:** Always-on dashboard, MQTT & Websocket support, SSL secure communication, Real-time panel updates, 250+ customizable icons, Dark theme, Import/Export configuration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and configure
- 👍 Great for testing MQTT
- 👍 Versatile and flexible app
- 👍 Good for visualizing MQTT data
- 👍 Well-thought-out design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues reported
- 🐛 Inconsistent connection to brokers
- 🐛 App can freeze or become unresponsive
- 🐛 Some users experience random disconnections
- 🐛 Background operation limitations on iOS

**Reported bugs**

- Randomly won't connect to public MQTT brokers
- App fails to connect to broker frequently
- Connectivity seems very inconsistent
- App freezes when trying to input URL in web page panel
- App does not reconnect after MQTT server disconnects, requires restart

**Requested features**

- Configuration example would be useful
- Gauges showing color portions instead of whole gauge changing color
- Apple Watch support for viewing data
- Option to search for keywords in payload
- Icon for opening and closing windows


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bolt IoT free?

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

### Is IoT MQTT Panel free?

IoT MQTT Panel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Bolt IoT or IoT MQTT Panel?

IoT MQTT Panel is rated higher. Bolt IoT averages 2.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while IoT MQTT Panel averages 4.8 from 44 ratings.

### Do Bolt IoT or IoT MQTT Panel have ads?

Both Bolt IoT and IoT MQTT Panel show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bolt IoT or IoT MQTT Panel?

Bolt IoT ships an update every 5 weeks, and IoT MQTT Panel fortnightly. Most recently, Bolt IoT was updated on October 24, 2026 and IoT MQTT Panel on October 30, 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.*