nRF Connect Device Manager vs blob
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
nRF Connect Device Manager
This tool allows for the updating and management of devices running specific SDKs via Bluetooth LE. It supports features like firmware updates, file system access, and device reset.
- Firmware Update Over-The-Air (FOTA)
- File System Management
- Device Reset
- Logs & Stats
- Bluetooth LE Support
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nRF Connect Device Manager is a generic tool for updating and managing devices running nRF Connect SDK supporting Device Manager module over Bluetooth LE (aka Management Subsystem, Mcu Manager, Bare Metal, SMP Server, SUIT). Features: * Basic: Echo, Reset * Firmware Update Over-The-Air (FOTA, DFU) * File System * Logs & stats Links: Source code: https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/IOS-nRF-Connect-Device-Manager * nRF Connect SDK: https://www.nordicsemi.com/Software-and-tools/Software/nRF-Connect-SDK * SMP Server Sample Doc: https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/zephyr/samples/subsys/mgmt/mcumgr/smp_svr/README.html#smp-svr-sample * McuManager: https://github.com/apache/mynewt-mcumgr * SMP over Bluetooth: https://github.com/apache/mynewt-mcumgr/blob/master/transport/smp-bluetooth.md
blob
This app provides a unique binary encoding method and supports multiple data formats like hex, decimal, and base64. It ensures type safety for data conversions and keeps a history of performed actions for debugging. Additional tools like substring and random bytes are also included.
- Blob encoding (base256)
- Multiple data formats (binary, hex, base64, etc.)
- Type-safe data actions
- Action history log
- Substring tool
- Random bytes generator
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blob brings binary to your shortcuts. - blob encoding! a base256 format that makes data distinct and type safe. - other formats! supports binary, hex, decimal, base32, base64, and xxd data. and UTF-8, and ascii text. - type safety! blob actions use consistent parameter and return value labels to ensure you're using what you want, where you want it. - no more encoding blunders! each action either performs text -> data or data -> text, so you never end up encoding your encoded string, or interpreting encoded data as text. - keep track! the app records every action to view, share, and debug. - additional tools! Substring and Random Bytes because they're helpful.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: nRF Connect Device Manager at Free against blob's $2.00. nRF Connect Device Manager also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). On rating, ratings volume, 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
nRF Connect Device Manager is free to download; blob costs $2.00 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for nRF Connect Device Manager against 5.0 for blob. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
nRF Connect Device Manager ships an update every 3 weeks, blob every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | nRF Connect Device Manager | blob |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $2.00 |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nordic Semiconductor ASA | X-AMZ LLC |
Customer experience
nRF Connect Device Manager
blob
In-app purchases
nRF Connect Device Manager
No in-app purchases
blob
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is nRF Connect Device Manager free?
Is blob free?
Which has better reviews, nRF Connect Device Manager or blob?
Do nRF Connect Device Manager or blob have ads?
Which is updated more often, nRF Connect Device Manager or blob?
Other comparisons
