Bad Elf Flex vs CEM Smart
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Monitor GNSS receiver health
- Change hardware settings
- Perform firmware updates
- Purchase and load Flex Tokens
- Enable hardware-based features
- Access correction sources
Read full descriptionHide 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.
CEM Smart
Read full descriptionHide full description
The CEM Smart app provides users with functions such as viewing and analyzing data.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: CEM Smart at 13.0 against Bad Elf Flex's 15.5. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Bad Elf Flex ships an update every 3 months, CEM Smart every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and May 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bad Elf Flex | CEM Smart |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (14 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bad Elf, LLC. | Shenzhen Everbest Machinery Industry Co.,Ltd |
In-app purchases
Bad Elf Flex
No in-app purchases
CEM Smart
No in-app purchases
