# nRF Device Firmware Update vs Pathwave Allower

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pathwave Allower at every 11 days against nRF Device Firmware Update's every 9 months. Pathwave Allower also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). nRF Device Firmware Update's advantage is chart position (#142 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

nRF Device Firmware Update ships an update every 9 months, Pathwave Allower every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | nRF Device Firmware Update | Pathwave Allower |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nrf-device-firmware-update/id1624454660/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **9** | — |
| Positive reviews | 20.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#142** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nordic Semiconductor ASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/497679114) | [Felipe Tonon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840373340) |

## What reviewers say

### nRF Device Firmware Update

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

**Currently charting:** #142 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


### Pathwave Allower

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathwave-allower/id6752648717)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is nRF Device Firmware Update free?

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

### Is Pathwave Allower free?

Pathwave Allower is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do nRF Device Firmware Update or Pathwave Allower have ads?

Neither nRF Device Firmware Update nor Pathwave Allower shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, nRF Device Firmware Update or Pathwave Allower?

nRF Device Firmware Update ships an update every 9 months, and Pathwave Allower every 11 days. Most recently, nRF Device Firmware Update was updated on September 26, 2026 and Pathwave Allower on September 17, 2026.

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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.*