# Dabble vs GamePad & Controller Tester

The clearest difference is rating: Dabble at 3.9 against GamePad & Controller Tester's 2.7. Dabble also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GamePad & Controller Tester sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $12.99 per month. Dabble asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dabble holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 128 and 242 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Dabble's written reviews are positive against 48% of GamePad & Controller Tester's.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dabble | GamePad & Controller Tester |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dabble-bluetooth-controller/id1472734455/reviews)** | [2.7 (242 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gamepad-and-controller-tester/id1624979525/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 128 | **242** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 47.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | — |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [STEMpedia](https://appshunter.io/developer/1472734454) | [MOBILESOURCE CORPORATION](https://appshunter.io/developer/1624979797) |

## What reviewers say

### Dabble

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dabble-bluetooth-controller/id1472734455)

Control and communicate with hardware like Arduino and ESP32 using your smartphone's sensors and Bluetooth. This app transforms your phone into a virtual controller, offering modules for LED control, terminal commands, gamepad functionality, and access to phone sensors.

**Highlights:** LED Brightness Control, Terminal for text and voice commands, Gamepad control (analog, digital, accelerometer), Pin State Monitor, Phone Sensor access (GPS, mic, accelerometer, etc.), Scratch & Arduino compatible projects

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use for beginners
- 🚀 Works well with ESP32 and Arduino
- 💰 Free and fully functional
- 💡 Great for robotics projects
- 📱 Useful phone sensors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Gamepad issues on iOS
- 🐛 Not all functions available on iPhone
- 🐛 GPS data transfer unreliable
- 🐛 Phone sensor data flaky
- 🐛 UI issues on older versions

**Reported bugs**

- Gamepad doesn't work on iOS
- Joystick values are blank on iOS
- Buttons do not show for gamepad
- Controller function broken on iPhones without a home button
- Gamepad won't turn, only shows left/right controls, format off

**Requested features**

- More buttons on gamepad or custom gamepad creation
- Additional controller types (joystick, button rows)
- Ability to map terminal commands to virtual actions/notifications
- Offline automation and scripts for iOS
- Xbox controller support


### GamePad & Controller Tester

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gamepad-and-controller-tester/id1624979525)

Diagnose and troubleshoot wireless game controllers with ease. Connect via Bluetooth to visualize all button presses, stick movements, and pressure-sensitive inputs for various popular console and MFi controllers.

**Highlights:** Controller connection via Bluetooth, Real-time visualization of actions and sticks, Pressure-sensitive button detection, Support for multiple controller types, Custom designs for different controllers

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $12.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Accurate controller testing functionality
- 👍 User-friendly interface and navigation
- 🚀 Quick and efficient performance
- 📊 Real-time feedback on button presses
- 🎮 Supports multiple controller types

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires premium subscription for full features
- 🚫 Limited functionality in free version
- 🐛 Controller pairing issues
- ❌ Doesn't control console from phone
- 😤 Misleading app description

**Reported bugs**

- Controller not detected during pairing
- App shows wrong controller type (e.g., Xbox instead of Switch)
- Controller becomes unresponsive after using app
- Bluetooth pairing failures
- Subscription charges continuing after cancellation

**Requested features**

- Ability to control console directly from phone
- Free tier with more functionality
- Better controller compatibility detection
- Pressure sensitivity detection for DualSense
- Advanced drift statistics and metrics


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dabble free?

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

### Is GamePad & Controller Tester free?

GamePad & Controller Tester is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Dabble or GamePad & Controller Tester?

Dabble is rated higher. Dabble averages 3.9 out of 5 from 128 ratings, while GamePad & Controller Tester averages 2.7 from 242 ratings.

### Do Dabble or GamePad & Controller Tester have ads?

GamePad & Controller Tester shows ads; Dabble does not.

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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.*