# Blink Shell, Build & Code vs nRF Device Firmware Update

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: nRF Device Firmware Update at none against Blink Shell, Build & Code's 5. Blink Shell, Build & Code's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and rating (3.1 vs 2.7). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Blink Shell, Build & Code sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. nRF Device Firmware Update asks for nothing beyond the download.

Blink Shell, Build & Code holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blink Shell, Build & Code has 418 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of Blink Shell, Build & Code's written reviews are positive against 20% of nRF Device Firmware Update's.

Blink Shell, Build & Code ships an update every 3 weeks, nRF Device Firmware Update every 9 months. Both last shipped on October 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blink Shell, Build & Code | nRF Device Firmware Update |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.1 (418 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blink-shell-build-and-code/id1594898306/reviews)** | [2.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nrf-device-firmware-update/id1624454660/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **418** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | **36.8% of reviews** | 20.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#13** | #98 |
| Size | 211 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Blink Shell, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526795995) | [Nordic Semiconductor ASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/497679114) |

## What reviewers say

### Blink Shell, Build & Code

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blink-shell-build-and-code/id1594898306)

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #69 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Transform your iOS device into a powerful terminal for coding and development. Leverage Mosh and SSH for stable, fast connections. Integrate with VS Code and manage your entire development workflow from your pocket.

**Highlights:** Mosh and SSH connections, VS Code integration (Blink Code), Remote runtime creation (Blink Build), Full SSH toolset, Hardware keyboard support, External display support, SFTP transfers

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Build Basic - 50 credits/month | $7.99 | per month |
| Blink+Build Basic | $9.99 | per month |
| Blink Plus | $19.99 | per year |
| Blink+ | $19.99 | per year |
| Blink Shell Classic | Free | one-time |


### nRF Device Firmware Update

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nrf-device-firmware-update/id1624454660)

**Currently charting:** #98 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This application enables Over-The-Air Device Firmware Upgrade (OTA-DFU) for nRF5 devices using Bluetooth LE. It supports updating firmware in .zip format, prepared with the 'nrf util' tool.

**Highlights:** Over-The-Air Device Firmware Upgrade (OTA-DFU), Bluetooth LE connectivity, Supports nRF5x Series chips, Updates Secure or Legacy DFU bootloaders, Requires .zip firmware format, Uses 'nrf util' for firmware preparation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blink Shell, Build & Code free?

Blink Shell, Build & Code is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is nRF Device Firmware Update free?

nRF Device Firmware Update is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Blink Shell, Build & Code or nRF Device Firmware Update?

Blink Shell, Build & Code is rated higher. Blink Shell, Build & Code averages 3.1 out of 5 from 418 ratings, while nRF Device Firmware Update averages 2.7 from 9 ratings.

### Do Blink Shell, Build & Code or nRF Device Firmware Update have ads?

Neither Blink Shell, Build & Code nor nRF Device Firmware Update shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Blink Shell, Build & Code or nRF Device Firmware Update?

Blink Shell, Build & Code ships an update every 3 weeks, and nRF Device Firmware Update every 9 months. Most recently, Blink Shell, Build & Code was updated on October 2, 2026 and nRF Device Firmware Update on October 2, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Blink Shell, Build & Code or nRF Device Firmware Update?

Blink Shell, Build & Code currently peaks at #13 in the App Store charts, and nRF Device Firmware Update at #98. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*