# LightBlue® vs Microchip Bluetooth Data

The clearest difference is rating: LightBlue® at 4.3 against Microchip Bluetooth Data's 2.3. LightBlue® also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (942 vs 3). Microchip Bluetooth Data's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). 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.

LightBlue® holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LightBlue® has 942 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of LightBlue®'s written reviews are positive against 55% of Microchip Bluetooth Data's.

LightBlue® ships an update every 3 weeks, Microchip Bluetooth Data every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LightBlue® | Microchip Bluetooth Data |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (942 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightblue/id557428110/reviews)** | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microchip-bluetooth-data/id1319166097/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **942** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **66.1% of reviews** | 54.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 22 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Punch Through](https://appshunter.io/developer/557428113) | [Microchip Technology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/368610396) |

## What reviewers say

### LightBlue®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightblue/id557428110)

This app allows users to interact with Bluetooth Low Energy devices. It supports scanning for, connecting to, and analyzing BLE peripherals, as well as simulating your own BLE devices. It's a comprehensive tool for developers and enthusiasts working with BLE technology.

**Highlights:** Scan and discover BLE peripherals, Connect and view device profiles, Read and write characteristics, Subscribe to notifications, Create and advertise virtual BLE devices, Clone peripheral profiles, Log and share BLE events

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Found lost devices
- 🔍 Helpful for locating Bluetooth devices
- 👍 Works great
- 👍 Lifesaver
- 👍 Fantastic app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work with dead devices
- 🐛 Unreliable connection
- 🐛 Confusing to use
- 🐛 Doesn't work with all devices

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes after updates
- Fails to connect Apple Pencil
- Doesn't detect all nearby devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to manually name devices
- More precise location tracking
- Integration with Siri/Shortcuts


### Microchip Bluetooth Data

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microchip-bluetooth-data/id1319166097)

This utility app facilitates Bluetooth data transfer and device control for specific Microchip platforms. It supports BLE UART for text and file exchange, sensor interaction, Wi-Fi and Zigbee provisioning, and over-the-air firmware updates.

**Highlights:** BLE UART for text and file transfer, Connect and control BLE sensors, Provision Wi-Fi and Zigbee devices, Scan and connect to BLE services, Beacon ranging demonstration, Over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LightBlue® free?

LightBlue® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Microchip Bluetooth Data free?

Microchip Bluetooth Data is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, LightBlue® or Microchip Bluetooth Data?

LightBlue® is rated higher. LightBlue® averages 4.3 out of 5 from 942 ratings, while Microchip Bluetooth Data averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do LightBlue® or Microchip Bluetooth Data have ads?

Neither LightBlue® nor Microchip Bluetooth Data shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LightBlue® or Microchip Bluetooth Data?

LightBlue® ships an update every 3 weeks, and Microchip Bluetooth Data every 4 months. Most recently, LightBlue® was updated on September 19, 2026 and Microchip Bluetooth Data on June 5, 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.*