Comparison

nRF Mesh vs STEINEL DCS™

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

STEINEL DCS™

This app enables wireless commissioning of lighting, plug load, and HVAC systems through a Bluetooth connection. It integrates occupancy sensors, photo sensors, and switches for code-compliant solutions. Features include relay control, dimming zones, and daylight harvesting.

Highlights
  • Wireless commissioning via Bluetooth
  • Load and HVAC integration
  • Occupancy and photo sensor integration
  • 3 x 20A Relays with current monitoring
  • 3 x 0-10v Dimming Zones
  • Daylight Harvesting
  • BACnet integration
Features
Read full description

This is the STEINEL DCS™ Commissioning App for the STEINEL Digital Control Solution™ line of products. The STEINEL DCS™ integrates load control with occupancy sensors, photo sensors and switches to provide simple code compliant solutions for lighting, plug load and HVAC integration through BACnet. Time saving wireless commissioning is accomplished via Bluetooth connection from a Smart Phone or Tablet to a STEINEL DCS™ Digital Controller, which communicates to the sensors and switches by the 2 wire bus.   Key Features Include:  • 3 x 20A Relays (expandable via BLE Mesh)  • Current Monitoring Per Relay • 3 x 0-10v Dimming Zones • Multizone Daylight Harvesting • Partial On & Off • 20 A Receptacle Control • Use Cases • Demand Response Input • 24V External Input Signal • Internal Time Clock • Sequence of Operations • Min. & Max. manual dimming levels • Light Scenes • Wired data line • BLE MESH for groupings • BACnet • External Relay Support • BACnet COV subscription • Inbuilt firmware embedded in app • Photosensor Outdoor logic • Time slice capacity increased to 9 • Astro function

Screenshots

nRF Mesh4 screens
STEINEL DCS™4 screens

Verdict

The call

nRF Mesh and STEINEL DCS™ both sit at 4.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 50% of STEINEL DCS™'s written reviews are positive against 30% of nRF Mesh's. nRF Mesh's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for nRF Mesh against 4.0 for STEINEL DCS™. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 30% of nRF Mesh's written reviews are positive against 50% of STEINEL DCS™'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

nRF Mesh ships an update every 6 weeks, STEINEL DCS™ monthly. The most recent releases landed on August 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
nRF Mesh versus STEINEL DCS™: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameternRF MeshSTEINEL DCS™
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings)4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews30.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings34 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNordic Semiconductor ASASteinel GmbH

Customer experience

nRF Mesh

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

STEINEL DCS™

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

nRF Mesh

No in-app purchases

None

STEINEL DCS™

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is nRF Mesh free?
nRF Mesh is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is STEINEL DCS™ free?
STEINEL DCS™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, nRF Mesh or STEINEL DCS™?
nRF Mesh and STEINEL DCS™ are both rated 4.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 4 ratings respectively.
Do nRF Mesh or STEINEL DCS™ have ads?
Neither nRF Mesh nor STEINEL DCS™ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, nRF Mesh or STEINEL DCS™?
nRF Mesh ships an update every 6 weeks, and STEINEL DCS™ monthly. Most recently, nRF Mesh was updated on August 24, 2026 and STEINEL DCS™ on September 20, 2026.

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