# RFID Explorer vs HID Reader Manager

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RFID Explorer at 50% against HID Reader Manager's 13%. RFID Explorer also leads on rating (3.0 vs 2.6). HID Reader Manager's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (26 vs 5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

RFID Explorer holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HID Reader Manager has 26 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of RFID Explorer's written reviews are positive against 13% of HID Reader Manager's.

RFID Explorer ships an update every 6 months, HID Reader Manager every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 7, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RFID Explorer | HID Reader Manager |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rfid-explorer/id639597756/reviews)** | [2.6 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hid-reader-manager/id1328840981/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **26** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 12.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 10 MB | 174 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Technology Solutions (UK) Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/639597759) | [HID Global](https://appshunter.io/developer/657306800) |

## What reviewers say

### RFID Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rfid-explorer/id639597756)

This application allows users to explore the capabilities of a specific Bluetooth UHF RFID reader. It facilitates inventory management, reading and writing data to RFID tags, and locating specific tags with visual and audio cues. A TSL Bluetooth UHF RFID Reader is required to access its full functionality.

**Highlights:** Inventory management of nearby transponders, Read and write data to RFID tags, Inspect tag memory banks, Locate specific tags with signal strength indicators, Execute and view ASCII protocol commands, Query reader for firmware and hardware versions

**In-app purchases:** none


### HID Reader Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hid-reader-manager/id1328840981)

This app simplifies the management of compatible HID readers. It allows administrators to configure settings, update firmware, and export reader status. Users can also upgrade readers to support Bluetooth and OSDP.

**Highlights:** Configure reader settings, Upgrade reader firmware, Inspect and export reader status, Enable Bluetooth support, Enable OSDP support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RFID Explorer free?

RFID Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HID Reader Manager free?

HID Reader Manager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, RFID Explorer or HID Reader Manager?

RFID Explorer is rated higher. RFID Explorer averages 3.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while HID Reader Manager averages 2.6 from 26 ratings.

### Do RFID Explorer or HID Reader Manager have ads?

Neither RFID Explorer nor HID Reader Manager shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RFID Explorer or HID Reader Manager?

RFID Explorer ships an update every 6 months, and HID Reader Manager every 2 months. Most recently, RFID Explorer was updated on June 7, 2026 and HID Reader Manager on September 22, 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.*