Comparison

Bad Elf Flex vs HOBOconnect

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

Head to head
About

Bad Elf Flex

This utility app enhances the functionality of Bad Elf Flex and Flex Mini GNSS receivers. It allows users to monitor hardware health, adjust settings, and update firmware. For the Flex model, it also enables the purchase and application of tokens for advanced features and correction sources like SBAS and RTK.

Highlights
  • Monitor GNSS receiver health
  • Change hardware settings
  • Perform firmware updates
  • Purchase and load Flex Tokens
  • Enable hardware-based features
  • Access correction sources
Features
Read full description

This is the free companion utility app for the flexible, intuitive, and affordable Bad Elf Flex and Flex Mini GNSS receivers. Designed for GIS and survey professionals, the Bad Elf Flex and Flex Mini connect to your iPhone or iPad via Bluetooth and provide high-accuracy location data to ANY and ALL field data collection apps in your workflow. This app allows you to view the health of the Flex and Flex Mini hardware, change settings, and perform firmware updates. For the Bad Elf Flex, the app also supports purchasing and loading Flex Tokens into the hardware for enabling hardware-based features and correction sources. Several correction sources are supported including SBAS, RTK via NTRIP, and Atlas (L-band) satellite corrections. Visit https://bad-elf.com/ to learn more about the Bad Elf Flex and Flex Mini GNSS receivers. NOTES: * This app requires a Bad Elf Flex or Flex Mini to operate. * Our "Bad Elf GPS" companion app supports our legacy mapping-grade receivers: Bad Elf GPS Pro, GPS Pro+, Surveyor, and GPS for Lightning dongle. * Continued use of the GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

HOBOconnect

Wirelessly configure, start, and download data from HOBO MX data loggers via Bluetooth. View, analyze, and export recorded data in various formats for further use in other applications.

Highlights
  • Wireless Bluetooth communication with HOBO MX loggers
  • Configure logger settings (name, password, rate, alarms)
  • Monitor logger status (memory, battery)
  • Download and view recorded data
  • Data analysis in graphical and list formats
  • Export data as CSV, TXT, XLSX, and HOBO files
Features
Read full description

HOBOconnect is designed to communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth Low Energy to the HOBO® MX data loggers. You can configure and start the data logger, download the recorded data, store and analyze the data. The data can be viewed in both graphical and list formats and also exported and shared to other programs including Numbers, Excel and HOBOware®. Features: * Wirelessly communicate to the HOBO® MX data loggers * Internet connection not required to use HOBOconnect * Set data logger's name, password, logging rate, alarm threshold, start & stop time * Check logger’s status included memory used and battery life * Clear audible alarms (for models with this feature) * Page the data logger * Manage data files with groups * Download and view data * Zoom in and out of the graph with gestures * Export and Share data as a CSV, TXT, XLSX and HOBO files Compatible Data Loggers * HOBO® MX1100 Series Temp/RH/CO2/Light/Analog Data Loggers * HOBO® MX2001 Water Level data logger * HOBO® MX100 Temperature data logger * HOBO® MX2200 Series Water Temp Data Loggers * HOBO® MX2300 Series Temp/RH/Soil Moisture data loggers * HOBO® MX2500 Series pH data loggers

Screenshots

Bad Elf Flex4 screens
HOBOconnect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Bad Elf Flex at 3.6 against HOBOconnect's 2.2. Bad Elf Flex also leads on review sentiment (40% vs 8%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

Bad Elf Flex holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 29 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Bad Elf Flex's written reviews are positive against 8% of HOBOconnect's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bad Elf Flex ships an update every 2 months, HOBOconnect every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Bad Elf Flex versus HOBOconnect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBad Elf FlexHOBOconnect
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (14 ratings) — better2.2 (29 ratings)
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews — better8.3% of reviews
Number of ratings1429 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB94 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBad Elf, LLC.Onset Computer Corporation

Customer experience

Bad Elf Flex

All ratings14 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

HOBOconnect

All ratings29 ratings
Positive20.7%
Neutral13.8%
Negative65.5%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive8.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative75.0%

In-app purchases

None

Bad Elf Flex

No in-app purchases

None

HOBOconnect

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bad Elf Flex free?
Bad Elf Flex is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HOBOconnect free?
HOBOconnect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bad Elf Flex or HOBOconnect?
Bad Elf Flex is rated higher. Bad Elf Flex averages 3.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while HOBOconnect averages 2.2 from 29 ratings.
Do Bad Elf Flex or HOBOconnect have ads?
Neither Bad Elf Flex nor HOBOconnect shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bad Elf Flex or HOBOconnect?
Bad Elf Flex ships an update every 2 months, and HOBOconnect every 6 weeks. Most recently, Bad Elf Flex was updated on October 26, 2026 and HOBOconnect on October 29, 2026.

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