Comparison

nRF Mesh vs BLE Laboratory Pro

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

Head to head
About

nRF Mesh

Easily deploy and manage Bluetooth Mesh networks. Control individual nodes, configure network settings, and update device firmware remotely. Supports a wide range of BLE devices compatible with Bluetooth Mesh.

Highlights
  • Node provisioning and identification
  • Remote provisioning capabilities
  • Network and application key configuration
  • Node control via various server models
  • Device firmware updates
  • Granular control over publication data and subscriptions
  • Explore node capabilities and security settings
Features
Read full description

nRF Mesh allows you to easily deploy nodes to any Bluetooth Mesh compatible Nodes, giving you flexibility to deploy many different Mesh network Setups. Features: • Identifying: Identify a node before provisioning it. • Provisioning: Deployment of a new Node is as simple as a press of a button. All Out-Of-Band (OOB) methods are supported. • Remote Provisioning: Allows provisioning Nodes that are too faw to reach them directly. • Configuration: Create Network and Application keys or use the randomly generated ones, subscribe to groups and setup your nodes for publishing. • Node Control: Control nodes with Generic OnOff Server, Generic Level Server, Generic OnPowerUp Server, Scene Server and many other models. • Device Firmware Update: Quickly send a new firmware to the Distributor and observe it slowly distributing it to all the nodes. Additionally, you may also run the following configuration commands on your network: • Fully control node publication data. All publication parameters are configurable. • Add/Remove one or more subscription addresses on a model. • Create own AppKeys, or generate them using the builtin crypto-safe generator. • Bind/unbind an Application Key to a specific model for full granular control of your networks' security. • Explore the nodes' capabilities to view all elements, models, provisioning time and date, Manufacturer and available vendor data. • Set the Default TTL on a per-node basis. • Manage global AppKey list on a node. • And much more... Hardware support: - This version of the app is capable of communicating with any BLE devices that speak Bluetooth Mesh! - We recommend nRF5 devices with our nRF SDK for Mesh or nRF Connect SDK.

About

BLE Laboratory Pro

This app allows users to scan for and interact with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices, displaying advertisement data and enabling communication with services and characteristics. It also supports configuring the device as a BLE peripheral with custom profiles and services.

Highlights
  • Discover BLE devices with advertisement data
  • Interact with services, characteristics, and descriptors
  • Read and write UTF-8 and HEXA data
  • Configure as a BLE peripheral
  • Create custom services and characteristics
  • Detailed runtime performance logs
  • Slick UI and efficient navigation
Features
Read full description

Are you developing BLE hard- or software? Are you interested in experimenting with BLE devices? Or do you just want to learn about devices in your vicinity? Look no further, you have found the best app! This is the result of years of BLE research and development. Here are the highlights: === Operation Mode Scanner === * Display discovered devices with complete advertisement data, * Interact with found services, characteristics, and descriptors, * Read and write UTF-8 and HEXA data with optimized keyboards. === Operation Mode Transmitter === * Configure as sending BLE peripheral with multiple profiles, * Create as many services and characteristics as you need, * Compose readable values out of static, dynamic, and interactive components. === Besides These === * Detailed log for analyzing the run-time-performance of every operation, * Slick UI and efficient navigation – the UI will never block you. Test the app with both operation modes – later on, unlock what you need via In-App-Purchase. Stay tuned for many more professional features – Version 1.0 is just the beginning!

Screenshots

nRF Mesh4 screens
BLE Laboratory Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: nRF Mesh at 4.0 against BLE Laboratory Pro's 3.4. nRF Mesh also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 8 months). BLE Laboratory Pro's advantage is review sentiment (55% vs 30%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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. BLE Laboratory Pro sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. nRF Mesh asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

nRF Mesh holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 30% of nRF Mesh's written reviews are positive against 55% of BLE Laboratory Pro's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

nRF Mesh ships an update every 6 weeks, BLE Laboratory Pro every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on August 24, 2026 and June 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
nRF Mesh versus BLE Laboratory Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameternRF MeshBLE Laboratory Pro
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings) — better3.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews30.0% of reviews54.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings37 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNordic Semiconductor ASAMichael Lauer

Customer experience

nRF Mesh

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive30.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative60.0%

BLE Laboratory Pro

All ratings7 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral28.6%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral18.2%
Negative27.3%

In-app purchases

None

nRF Mesh

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

BLE Laboratory Pro

One-time3
  • Scanner Support$8.99
  • Transmitter Support$12.99
  • All Operation Modes$17.99

Questions

Is nRF Mesh free?
nRF Mesh is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BLE Laboratory Pro free?
BLE Laboratory Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, nRF Mesh or BLE Laboratory Pro?
nRF Mesh is rated higher. nRF Mesh averages 4.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while BLE Laboratory Pro averages 3.4 from 7 ratings.
Do nRF Mesh or BLE Laboratory Pro have ads?
Neither nRF Mesh nor BLE Laboratory Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, nRF Mesh or BLE Laboratory Pro?
nRF Mesh ships an update every 6 weeks, and BLE Laboratory Pro every 8 months. Most recently, nRF Mesh was updated on August 24, 2026 and BLE Laboratory Pro on June 3, 2026.

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