Comparison

Thunkable Live vs BLExAR

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Thunkable Live

This platform allows users to create mobile applications using a visual, block-based programming language. It empowers individuals to design and control their own mobile device applications through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Explore tutorials and documentation to build your own projects.

Highlights
  • Drag and drop interface
  • Blocks based programming
  • Mobile device control
  • In-app tutorials
  • Extensive documentation
Features
Read full description

Thunkable is a drag and drop platform where anyone can use a blocks based programming language to control their mobile device. In addition to using the tutorials in the app, you can follow us for more extensive video tutorials and documentation to make your own Thunkable project.

About

BLExAR

This app enables iOS devices to communicate with Arduino boards via Bluetooth Low Energy. It allows real-time control of Arduino pins, data logging with GPS coordinates, and serial text communication for makers and students.

Highlights
  • Real-time control of Arduino digital and analog pins
  • Real-time data plotting
  • Data logging to CSV files
  • Capture GPS coordinates for data points
  • Serial text communication terminal
Features
Read full description

BLExAR turns your iPhone or iPad into a pocket bench instrument for Arduino-class boards over Bluetooth Low Energy. Connect to a board with an HM-10 style UART module (CC2541, AT-09, JDY-08, SH-M08), an nRF52840 MakerBLE board or a Seeed XIAO ESP32-C6, then switch pins, stream sensor values, plot and record them, all without writing an app of your own. BLExAR 3.0 is a complete rewrite that keeps working with the sketches and tutorials written for earlier versions: the same commands, the same pins and the same CSV files. CONTROL • Switch digital pins and set PWM from pin tiles laid out like your board's header • Analog sliders for the A-pins • Board profiles for Arduino Uno, Arduino Nano, MakerBLE (nRF52840), Seeed XIAO ESP32-C6 and the classic 2.7 layout • TX/RX activity lights show every message to and from the board DATA • Live chart of the comma-separated values your board sends, with Run/Hold and 10 s, 1 min and 10 min windows • Readout cards with min, max and standard deviation for each series, plus the incoming stream rate • Record sessions to CSV, optionally with your location on each row, and keep recording in the background • Browse, reopen and share recorded sessions; they also appear in the Files app CONSOLE • Serial terminal to send and receive text, with a hex view and quick command keys PANELS • Build your own control dashboards with buttons, toggles, sliders, a joystick and gauges bound to your board's commands and data columns • Share panels with others as files ALWAYS AT HAND • Live Activity on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island while connected or recording • Control Center controls to toggle a pin without opening the app • Scan list puts UART-ready boards first, ordered by signal strength • Automatic reconnect after a dropped link • Light and dark appearance and Dynamic Type BLExAR is made for makers, students, teachers and engineers. Tutorials and example sketches are at makersportal.com.

Screenshots

Thunkable Live4 screens
BLExAR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Thunkable Live at Free against BLExAR's $4.99. Thunkable Live also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (325 vs 14). BLExAR's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 54%). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Thunkable Live is free to download; BLExAR costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Thunkable Live against 4.0 for BLExAR. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Thunkable Live has 325 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of Thunkable Live's written reviews are positive against 75% of BLExAR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Thunkable Live ships an update weekly, BLExAR every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Thunkable Live versus BLExAR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThunkable LiveBLExAR
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.1 (325 ratings) — better4.0 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews53.5% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings325 — better14
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size116 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThunkableMaker Portal LLC

Customer experience

Thunkable Live

All ratings325 ratings
Positive76.6%
Neutral4.3%
Negative19.1%
Written reviews441 reviews
Positive53.5%
Neutral5.2%
Negative41.3%

BLExAR

All ratings14 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral7.1%
Negative21.4%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

Thunkable Live

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Login screen freezes or crashes
  • White screen issues and app not loading
  • Inability to view or edit code
  • Inconsistent behavior between web and mobile versions
  • Firebase integration problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved code editor and customization tools
  • Better integration with external services
  • More comprehensive documentation and tutorials
  • Ability to test apps on multiple devices

BLExAR

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Thunkable Live

No in-app purchases

None

BLExAR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Thunkable Live free?
Thunkable Live is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BLExAR free?
BLExAR costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Thunkable Live or BLExAR?
Thunkable Live is rated higher. Thunkable Live averages 4.1 out of 5 from 325 ratings, while BLExAR averages 4.0 from 14 ratings.
Do Thunkable Live or BLExAR have ads?
Neither Thunkable Live nor BLExAR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Thunkable Live or BLExAR?
Thunkable Live ships an update weekly, and BLExAR every 3 months. Most recently, Thunkable Live was updated on October 7, 2026 and BLExAR on October 13, 2026.

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