Comparison

Microchip SmartConnect vs Bluetooth Serial Connect

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

Head to head
About

Microchip SmartConnect

This application serves as a container for various Bluetooth Low Energy profile applications. It is designed for demonstrating functionalities with specific development kits and software. It supports a range of health and device information profiles.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth Low Energy profiles
  • Alert Notification
  • Heart Rate monitoring
  • Health Thermometer
  • Custom Serial Chat
  • Device Information
Features
Read full description

Microchip SmartConnect is a Bluetooth Smart mobile application developed by Microchip Technology Inc. It is a container app comprising of a number of Bluetooth Low Energy profile applications that can be used for demonstration with Microchip BLE development kits running Microchip BluSDK software. Features: Microchip SmartConnect supports the following BLE profiles/services: 1. Alert Notification 2. Battery 3. Blood Pressure 4. Custom Serial Chat (custom profile) 5. Device Information 6. Find Me 7. Heart Rate 8. Health Thermometer 9. Phone Alert 10. Proximity 11. Scan Parameters 12. Time Info

About

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.

Highlights
  • Customizable control boards
  • Button and joystick inputs
  • Display integration
  • Bluetooth low-energy module support
  • Arduino library for easy integration
Features
Read full description

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

Microchip SmartConnect3 screens
Bluetooth Serial Connect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Bluetooth Serial Connect at 3.7 against Microchip SmartConnect's 1.0. Microchip SmartConnect's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.2). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bluetooth Serial Connect holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 7 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Microchip SmartConnect versus Bluetooth Serial Connect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicrochip SmartConnectBluetooth Serial Connect
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (3 ratings)3.7 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings37 — better
Update frequency—Every 10 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better16.2
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMicrochip Technology Inc.Henry Abrahamsen

Customer experience

Microchip SmartConnect

All ratings3 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bluetooth Serial Connect

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral28.6%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Microchip SmartConnect

No in-app purchases

None

Bluetooth Serial Connect

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Microchip SmartConnect free?
Microchip SmartConnect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bluetooth Serial Connect free?
Bluetooth Serial Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Microchip SmartConnect or Bluetooth Serial Connect?
Bluetooth Serial Connect is rated higher. Microchip SmartConnect averages 1.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Bluetooth Serial Connect averages 3.7 from 7 ratings.
Do Microchip SmartConnect or Bluetooth Serial Connect have ads?
Bluetooth Serial Connect shows ads; Microchip SmartConnect does not.

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