Comparison

HMI Editor vs DeviceTools

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

Head to head
About

HMI Editor

Create custom interfaces for real-time industrial process monitoring and control on iOS devices. Design dynamic dashboards with various elements and connect them to PLC systems. Develop and test projects freely, with payment only for deployment.

Highlights
  • Customizable page layouts
  • Real-time monitoring and control
  • Support for major PLC brands
  • On-screen project editing
  • Export/import asset files
  • Cloud storage and deployment
Features
Read full description

HMI Editor is a *native* iOS application for creating Human Machine Interfaces for real-time monitoring and control of industrial PLC based systems and processes. Data is presented in highly customizable page layouts much like a presentations app. Who's this for. The app is aimed at automation engineers or industrial machine manufacturers on many sectors including but not limited to building automation, industrial processing, power plants, water plants, industrial equipment, transportation and so on, who want to provide instant, reliable access to real-time data right from iOS devices. What you'll get for the price of the app. HMI Editor allows you to create efficient, advanced, highly responsive "Human Machine Interfaces" right on your iPad screen with unprecedented ease of use and fun. The HMI Editor app is fully native and supports all major Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) brands. For the price of the app (FREE) you can *fully* develop and test projects of any complexity. No restrictions on number of pages, tags or PLCs are applied at this stage. You only pay for project activations when you are ready to deploy to end users. HMI Editor essential Features. - Very fast, launches and connects immediately regardless of project size. - All data types including Strings, Arrays and Dictionaries fully supported. - HMI Projects are edited on-screen as you run and monitor your process. - You can export and edit your project files as text on your PC or Mac. - Export/import asset files such as images, pdfs or audio files from HMI Editor to your PC or Mac. - Optional project storage in the cloud and easy deployment to end users devices. - Native PLC communication protocols. Connections are performed with no intermediate servers or boxes. - Major PLC brands supported, including: Allen Bradley, Mitsubishi, Omron, Opto 22, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Wago. - TCP/IP based security. Getting Started: creating a HMI Editor project. Projects are created like a mix of PowerPoint and Excel. The concept is quite simple. You lay out elements such as Sliders, Switches, Buttons, Images, Text Fields, Knobs, Trends, Gauges, Bar Indicators, Web browser, Array pickers, even Gesture Recognizers and much more onto pages. You connect on-screen objects with iPad sensors and PLC tags through simple links or powerful expressions. That's it !!. The result is a stunning, dynamic, real-time presentation of your PLC controlled process as you'd never imagined. Examples Ready for You. Explore the examples and take the liberty to make changes on them. Create your own test projects from scratch or based on the examples. HMI Editor will comprehensively tell you what inconsistencies or problems there may be in your project as you build them. New examples are being added on a regular basis or by user request. What's Next. There’s a lot more that we haven’t mentioned here, such as the page navigation interface, the embedded file server, the model browser, the model seeker, the automatic expression completer, the inspector viewer, alarm notifications, iPad sensors, barcode scanner, user access levels, password on launch, PLC validation codes, individual tag diagnostics, background processing, automatic network switching, and much much more. You surely will identify some of these features by just exploring the app, but the single source where everything is covered is the HMI Editor Reference Manual. Feel free to download it from our site and look at the full possibilities, you’ll love the product. Technical Support. We provide a free online support service based on public forums on our website: http://www.sweetwilliamsl.com/support/forums Or through direct email: support@ritecontrol.com. We also hold a public YouTube​ channel at: http://www.youtube.com/hmipad. Feel free to direct your questions, suggestions or feedback to any of the above. We'll be happy to hear from you.

About

DeviceTools

Streamline the setup and maintenance of industrial I/O modules. Quickly configure devices, troubleshoot issues with AI assistance, and manage product warranties directly from your mobile device.

Highlights
  • NFC tap configuration
  • AI-assisted troubleshooting
  • One-tap IP auto-increment
  • Warranty verification and registration
  • Device status at-a-glance
  • Product information access
Read full description

Save Time. Set Up Faster. Simplify Configuration and Troubleshooting. DeviceTools™ mobile app helps minimize manual configuration of your Allen-Bradley PointMax™ I/O modules via NFC tap, helping you accelerate startup and reduce downtime. With a mobile-first experience, DeviceTools™ becomes your go-to troubleshooting companion built to simplify the everyday, on-the-go tasks. Get reliable, clear, actionable insights to help resolve issues quickly and keep your operations running smoothly. Your device status at-a-glance: Scan with NFC to open the details screen—product information, installed modules and network configuration in one place. One-tap IP auto-increment: Reduce the time-consuming task of setting multiple IP addresses. Simply tap to connect and set device IP addresses using Near Field Communication (NFC). Deploy any number of modules fast and consistently—all while the product is still in the box. One-tap to extend your warranty: Easily verify and register your Allen-Bradley® products—right in the app. Enjoy peace of mind with fast product authentication and unlock extended warranty on eligible items when you register. AI-Assisted Chat: Get answers to your questions faster with an in-app tool trained on Allen-Bradley® devices. Products Supported: Allen-Bradley PointMax™ I/O Modules by Rockwell Automation

Screenshots

HMI Editor4 screens
DeviceTools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DeviceTools at none against HMI Editor's 3. DeviceTools also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 75%). HMI Editor's advantage is device support (4 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. HMI Editor sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. DeviceTools asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for HMI Editor against 4.8 for DeviceTools. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 18 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of HMI Editor's written reviews are positive against 100% of DeviceTools's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HMI Editor ships an update every 2 months, DeviceTools every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
HMI Editor versus DeviceTools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHMI EditorDeviceTools
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (10 ratings)4.8 (18 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1018 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB130 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGreg MaendelRockwell Automation

Customer experience

HMI Editor

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

DeviceTools

All ratings18 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

HMI Editor

One-time3
  • Activation for One Use$199.99
  • Activation for Five Uses$599.99
  • Activation for Ten Uses$999.99
None

DeviceTools

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HMI Editor free?
HMI Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DeviceTools free?
DeviceTools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HMI Editor or DeviceTools?
DeviceTools is rated higher. HMI Editor averages 4.7 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while DeviceTools averages 4.8 from 18 ratings.
Do HMI Editor or DeviceTools have ads?
Neither HMI Editor nor DeviceTools shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HMI Editor or DeviceTools?
HMI Editor ships an update every 2 months, and DeviceTools every 3 months. Most recently, HMI Editor was updated on September 14, 2026 and DeviceTools on September 24, 2026.

Other comparisons