Comparison

nRF Blinky vs xBeaconPlus

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

Head to head
About

nRF Blinky

Read full description

nRF Blinky is an application targeted towards developers who are new to Bluetooth Low Energy. nRF Blinky has the following features: - Scan and connect to any nRF5 DK containing the Nordic Semiconductor’s proprietary LED/Button Service. - Toggle the LED on the development kit On and Off from within the application. - Receive Button press and release events from the development kit and display it within the application. This application is open sourced and the is written in Swift 5 and available on GitHub: https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/IOS-CoreBluetooth-Mock

About

xBeaconPlus

Configure and manage iBeacon and Eddystone devices. Adjust hardware parameters, broadcast intervals, and transmission power. Offers advanced security features like connection verification and data encryption.

Highlights
  • Modify iBeacon and Eddystone parameters
  • Adjust hardware parameters
  • Configure broadcast intervals
  • Set transmission power
  • Enable anti-tampering technologies
  • Beacon ranging
  • Firmware upgrades
Features
Read full description

xBeaconPlus is a multifunctional beacon configuration application designed to enhance user experience. It not only supports modifying basic iBeacon and Eddystone parameters but also allows users to adjust key hardware parameters such as broadcast intervals, transmission power, sensor status, and hardware information. Additionally, to enhance security, xBeaconPlus offers advanced anti-tampering technologies such as connection verification and data encryption communication. The application also supports beacon ranging and firmware upgrades to ensure optimal device performance. We are committed to continually expanding the range of functions to meet more professional needs. Please contact us for more information on additional functions and products. We also recommend you visit our "xBeaconBatch" application, which provides a series of advanced engineering tools to further improve work efficiency and effectiveness.

Screenshots

nRF Blinky2 screens
xBeaconPlus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: xBeaconPlus at every 2 weeks against nRF Blinky's every 9 months. nRF Blinky's advantage is device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

nRF Blinky ships an update every 9 months, xBeaconPlus every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
nRF Blinky versus xBeaconPlus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameternRF BlinkyxBeaconPlus
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNordic Semiconductor ASAShenzhen Lanke Xuntong Technology Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

None

nRF Blinky

No in-app purchases

None

xBeaconPlus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is nRF Blinky free?
nRF Blinky is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is xBeaconPlus free?
xBeaconPlus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do nRF Blinky or xBeaconPlus have ads?
Neither nRF Blinky nor xBeaconPlus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, nRF Blinky or xBeaconPlus?
nRF Blinky ships an update every 9 months, and xBeaconPlus every 2 weeks. Most recently, nRF Blinky was updated on September 20, 2026 and xBeaconPlus on September 12, 2026.

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