# IvyPal vs microbitBLE

The clearest difference is rating: IvyPal at 4.3 against microbitBLE's 2.0. IvyPal also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

IvyPal holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

IvyPal ships an update fortnightly, microbitBLE every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and June 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IvyPal | microbitBLE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivypal/id1373818993/reviews)** | [2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microbitble/id1635024315/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 98 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oneplus Smartware](https://appshunter.io/developer/1104737575) | [Atsushi Yamada](https://appshunter.io/developer/301497489) |

## What reviewers say

### IvyPal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivypal/id1373818993)

Connect with native English speakers for one-on-one tutoring. Learn English language skills and gain real-life experiences from students attending top US universities.

**Highlights:** One-on-one English tutoring, Native English speaker instructors, Real-life US student experiences, College preparation insights, Language and cultural learning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### microbitBLE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microbitble/id1635024315)

Connect your smartphone to a micro:bit device via Bluetooth. Send text from your keyboard to display on the micro:bit's LED, and receive messages sent from the micro:bit. Ideal for interactive coding projects and learning.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth UART connection, Send text to micro:bit LED, Receive messages from micro:bit, Button press triggers messages, Interactive coding projects

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IvyPal free?

IvyPal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is microbitBLE free?

microbitBLE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, IvyPal or microbitBLE?

IvyPal is rated higher. IvyPal averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while microbitBLE averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do IvyPal or microbitBLE have ads?

Neither IvyPal nor microbitBLE shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IvyPal or microbitBLE?

IvyPal ships an update fortnightly, and microbitBLE every 2 months. Most recently, IvyPal was updated on September 15, 2026 and microbitBLE on June 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*