RFID Explorer vs ST NFC Sensor
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RFID Explorer
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.
- 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
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RFID Explorer will help you explore the performance, functionality and versatility of Technology Solutions’ high performance 1128 Bluetooth UHF RFID Reader. Please note that to explore the full capabilities of RFID Explorer requires a TSL Bluetooth UHF RFID Reader. Technology Solutions (UK) Ltd (TSL) specialises in the design, development and manufacture of Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) and other multi-technology mobile device peripherals that are used to track products, assets, data or personnel. RFID devices are typically used in transport logistics, stock inventory control, and collection of personal data and attendance. RFID Explorer uses TSL's sophisticated, parameterised, ASCII protocol which provides developers with a powerful set of commands to carry out complex UHF RFID transponder operations in a simple, easy to grasp way. Using these simple pre-configured ASCII commands, the 1128 UHF RFID reader can be rapidly integrated into applications resulting in un-paralleled levels of productivity. Features: ▪ Inventory - Rapidly generate a list of unique, nearby transponders (tags) and review a summary of scan operations ▪ Read/Write - Inspect information stored in the memory banks of a chosen tag. Create customised tags by writing new information to a chosen tag memory bank. Use the Transcript to discover the underlying ASCII protocol command parameters that power these operations. ▪ Commands - See the reader execute a wide selection of ASCII Commands while viewing all the detail of the data packets sent and received from the device. Query the reader for information such as firmware and hardware versions, region information, battery level and scan 1D and 2D barcodes (requires antenna with 2D imager option to be fitted). Use the in-built Command descriptions to understand the power and flexibility of TSL's unique ASCII Protocol. ▪ Find-a-tag - Locate a specific tag with the handheld reader aided by the audible and graphical representations of tag signal strength levels.
ST NFC Sensor
This application showcases energy harvesting capabilities for NFC tags. It allows users to read sensor data from systems running specific firmware, even without a battery. Explore the potential of battery-free sensor deployment.
- Demonstrates energy harvesting
- Reads sensor data
- Supports FP-SNS-SMARTAG1 firmware
- Works with STEVAL-SMARTAG1 evaluation board
- Enables battery-free deployment
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The ST NFC Sensor app demonstrate the Energy Harvesting feature. You can read data, in one shot mode, from any system running the FP-SNS-SMARTAG1 firmware package, like the STEVAL-SMARTAG1 evaluation board. The energy harvesting feature of the embedded ST25DV series Dynamic NFC Tag means you can even deploy the STEVAL-SMARTAG1 without a battery and still read sensor data in one shot mode. For more information, visit the STEVAL-SMARTAG1 and FP-SNS-SMARTAG1 web pages on www.st.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: RFID Explorer at 50% against ST NFC Sensor's 0%. RFID Explorer also leads on rating (3.0 vs 2.3). ST NFC Sensor's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
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 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of RFID Explorer's written reviews are positive against 0% of ST NFC Sensor's.
RFID Explorer ships an update every 6 months, ST NFC Sensor every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RFID Explorer | ST NFC Sensor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (5 ratings) — better | 2.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Technology Solutions (UK) Ltd | STMicroelectronics |
Customer experience
RFID Explorer
ST NFC Sensor
In-app purchases
RFID Explorer
No in-app purchases
ST NFC Sensor
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is RFID Explorer free?
Is ST NFC Sensor free?
Which has better reviews, RFID Explorer or ST NFC Sensor?
Do RFID Explorer or ST NFC Sensor have ads?
Which is updated more often, RFID Explorer or ST NFC Sensor?
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