nRF Blinky vs File Glider
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
nRF Blinky
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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
File Glider
Wirelessly transfer files to and from compatible Bluetooth Low Energy or Wi-Fi devices. Browse, edit, and manage files directly within the app or integrate with the Files app for broader access. Supports multiple device management and sharing across applications.
- Wireless file transfer
- BLE and Wi-Fi support
- File browsing and editing
- Files app integration
- Multiple device management
- Cross-app access sharing
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Wirelessly transfer files to and from file transfer ready Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or Wi-Fi firmware. Browse and edit files from within File Glider or use the Files app integration to access the files from other apps. Multiple devices can be managed at once and access can be shared amongst multiple apps. Compatible devices: * nrf52840 boards running CircuitPython * ESP32-S2 TFT The file transfer protocol is open so you can use File Glider with custom firmware. See GitHub for protocol details: https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_BLE_File_Transfer Source for the app is here: https://github.com/adafruit/Glider-for-iOS
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: nRF Blinky at 12.0 against File Glider's 15.0. On price, update cadence, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
nRF Blinky ships an update every 9 months, File Glider every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | nRF Blinky | File Glider |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.2 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 5 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months — better | Every 10 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nordic Semiconductor ASA | Adafruit Industries |
In-app purchases
nRF Blinky
No in-app purchases
File Glider
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is nRF Blinky free?
Is File Glider free?
Do nRF Blinky or File Glider have ads?
Which is updated more often, nRF Blinky or File Glider?
Other comparisons
