Comparison

microbitBLE vs DIYables Bluetooth STEM

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

microbitBLE

Connect your smartphone to a micro:bit device via Bluetooth. Send text from your keyboard to display on the micro:bit's LED, and receive messages sent from the micro:bit. Ideal for interactive coding projects and learning.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth UART connection
  • Send text to micro:bit LED
  • Receive messages from micro:bit
  • Button press triggers messages
  • Interactive coding projects
Features
Read full description

It is an application that allows you to connect the micro:bit Bluetooth UART. When you hit the keyboard of your smartphone, characters will be displayed on the LED of the micro:bit. Displays the characters sent from the micro:bit. In the sample, when the A button is pressed, Hello is sent and displayed on the smartphone. Usage 1. program the micro:bit 2. The micro:bit start and wait for Bluetooth connection (in the sample, a square mark is displayed) 3. Press the "connect to micro:bit" button in the app 4. When the connection is complete, the square display in the middle (transmission character display) will turn black and a check mark will appear on the micro:bit. 5. Hit the keyboard and the character will be displayed on the micro:bit 6. When you press the A button on the micro:bit, "Hello" is displayed in the "received message" part of the app 7. Press the "disconnect from micro:bit" button to disconnect Bluetooth and display a cross mark on the micro:bit

About

DIYables Bluetooth STEM

Features
Read full description

DIYables Bluetooth STEM is a companion app for Arduino and ESP32 projects. Connect to your microcontroller via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and interact with it using 11 powerful built-in tools — no web programming required. BUILT-IN APPS: • Monitor — Real-time serial monitor in your pocket • Chat — Interactive chat interface with your Arduino/ESP32 • Pin Control — Control and monitor digital pins • Joystick — Virtual joystick for robot and vehicle control • Sliders — Dual slider controls for analog/PWM outputs • Plotter — Real-time data visualization and plotting • Analog Gauge — Circular gauge display for sensor monitoring • Rotator — Rotatable disc control for servo/stepper motors • Temperature — Thermometer visualization with configurable ranges • RTC — Real-time clock with time synchronization • Data Table — Two-column data display with real-time updates SUPPORTED HARDWARE: • Arduino Nano 33 BLE • Arduino Uno R4 WiFi • ESP32 (BLE mode) • Any BLE-capable Arduino board KEY FEATURES: • Connect via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) • Auto-reconnect to last connected device • Show/hide apps via Settings to customize your workspace • Works with the DIYables Bluetooth Arduino Library • Clean, modern interface optimized for iPhone PERFECT FOR: • STEM education and classroom projects • IoT prototyping and development • Robotics control • Sensor monitoring and data logging • Learning Arduino and ESP32 programming Get the companion Arduino library at: https://github.com/DIYables/DIYables-Bluetooth Created by DIYables — Making electronics accessible for everyone.

Screenshots

microbitBLE3 screens
DIYables Bluetooth STEM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: microbitBLE at none against DIYables Bluetooth STEM's shown. On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
microbitBLE versus DIYables Bluetooth STEM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermicrobitBLEDIYables Bluetooth STEM
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.515.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAtsushi YamadaSY KHANH HO

In-app purchases

None

microbitBLE

No in-app purchases

None

DIYables Bluetooth STEM

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is microbitBLE free?
microbitBLE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DIYables Bluetooth STEM free?
DIYables Bluetooth STEM is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do microbitBLE or DIYables Bluetooth STEM have ads?
DIYables Bluetooth STEM shows ads; microbitBLE does not.

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