nRF Connect Device Manager vs Ankra
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 firmware updates, file system access, and basic device commands like reset and echo.
- Firmware Update Over-The-Air (FOTA, DFU)
- File System Management
- Device Reset
- Echo Command
- Logs & Stats Access
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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
Ankra
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Ankra is the companion app for the Ankra Kubernetes platform. Manage your clusters, stacks, and add-ons from your iPhone or iPad with native iOS conveniences that the web alone cannot offer. Built for platform engineers and SREs who need cluster health at a glance: • Face ID / Touch ID gate on every launch and after 5 minutes in the background, with device-passcode fallback. • Offline-aware with an active connection probe - the app keeps showing the last view you had and offers a one-tap Reconnect when the network comes back. • ankra:// deep links to jump straight to any cluster, add-on, or stack from links anywhere on your phone. • Native downloads - kubeconfigs, YAML manifests, and platform exports hand off to the iOS Files / Share sheet. • Branded splash and offline screens that match the Ankra design system. • Camera and photo-library integration for attaching screenshots to support tickets. • Optimised WebView - pull-to-refresh, swipe-to-go-back, persistent cookies so you stay logged in between sessions. Requires an active account on platform.ankra.app. Sign up at https://ankra.io or contact sales for a demo. Support: https://docs.ankra.ai Privacy: https://ankra.io/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Ankra at every 2 days against nRF Connect Device Manager's every 3 weeks. nRF Connect Device Manager's advantage is chart position (#165 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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.
nRF Connect Device Manager ships an update every 3 weeks, Ankra every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | nRF Connect Device Manager | Ankra |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | #165 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | Nordic Semiconductor ASA | Ankra AB |
In-app purchases
nRF Connect Device Manager
No in-app purchases
Ankra
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is nRF Connect Device Manager free?
Is Ankra free?
Do nRF Connect Device Manager or Ankra have ads?
Which is updated more often, nRF Connect Device Manager or Ankra?
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