# LightBlue® vs DeviceRadar

The clearest difference is rating: DeviceRadar at 5.0 against LightBlue®'s 4.3. DeviceRadar also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.4). LightBlue®'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DeviceRadar sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. LightBlue® asks for nothing beyond the download.

DeviceRadar holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LightBlue® has 942 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

LightBlue® ships an update every 3 weeks, DeviceRadar every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LightBlue® | DeviceRadar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (942 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightblue/id557428110/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deviceradar-ble-scanner/id6748281259/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **942** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Freemium |
| Size | 22 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Punch Through](https://appshunter.io/developer/557428113) | [Hanna Freitag](https://appshunter.io/developer/1765075131) |

## 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


### DeviceRadar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deviceradar-ble-scanner/id6748281259)

This utility helps locate nearby Bluetooth devices by scanning for their signals. It displays device names, manufacturers, and estimated distances, with features like a proximity radar and sound beacon to aid in finding lost items. Advanced options include signal strength graphs, device mapping, and background monitoring.

**Highlights:** Scan and discover BLE devices, Smart device recognition, Proximity radar with sound beacon, Signal strength graph (Pro), Device map with locations (Pro), Background monitoring & notifications (Pro), Home screen widget

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LightBlue® free?

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

### Is DeviceRadar free?

DeviceRadar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, LightBlue® or DeviceRadar?

DeviceRadar is rated higher. LightBlue® averages 4.3 out of 5 from 942 ratings, while DeviceRadar averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do LightBlue® or DeviceRadar have ads?

Neither LightBlue® nor DeviceRadar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LightBlue® or DeviceRadar?

LightBlue® ships an update every 3 weeks, and DeviceRadar every 7 months. Most recently, LightBlue® was updated on October 14, 2026 and DeviceRadar on September 30, 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.*