Comparison

MPLAB PTG vs ST BLE Sensor Classic

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

Head to head
About

MPLAB PTG

This utility app enables remote programming of target devices using a connected PICkit 5 tool via Bluetooth. Users can select and initiate programming from multiple saved images on their iOS device.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Remote programming initiation
  • Multiple program image selection
  • Saved image management
  • iOS device integration
Features
Read full description

The MPLAB® PICkit™ 5 Programmer-to-Go mobile app allows you to connect your iPhone or iPad to the PICkit 5 using Bluetooth. With your iOS device connected, you can select from multiple saved program images on the memory card installed in the tool, and remotely start programing the target from the app.

About

ST BLE Sensor Classic

This app connects to ST development boards via Bluetooth Low Energy to access sensor data. It allows logging data to cloud providers and updating board firmware directly from your mobile device.

Highlights
  • Access sensor data
  • Log data to cloud providers
  • Update board firmware
  • Discover board functionalities
  • Supports motion-sensor data fusion
  • Activity recognition
  • Pedometer functionality
Features
Read full description

The ST BLE Sensor Classic application is used in conjunction with an ST development board and firmware compatible with the BlueST protocol to give you access to all the sensor data, which you can log to different cloud providers, and to update the board firmware directly from a mobile device via the Bluetooth® Low Energy protocol. After discovery ST development board, the app shows you a list of available demos and you can navigate through them to discover the functionalities of your board. Demos can be related about environmental, cloud, audio, board configuration, machine learning and and many other functionalities. Cloud side, ST BLE Sensor can communicate with Microsoft Azure IoT Central, Aws IoT and ST Asset Tracking dashboard. The application is built on top of the BlueST SDK library implementing the BlueST protocol and helps you export the data easily via Bluetooth® Low Energy. The application also supports firmware library algorithms like motion-sensor data fusion, activity recognition and pedometer functionality. Both SDK and application source code are freely available at: https://github.com/STMicroelectronics

Screenshots

MPLAB PTG4 screens
ST BLE Sensor Classic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MPLAB PTG at 4.0 against ST BLE Sensor Classic's 1.3. ST BLE Sensor Classic's advantage is update cadence (every 6 months vs every 19 months) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MPLAB PTG holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MPLAB PTG ships an update every 19 months, ST BLE Sensor Classic every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
MPLAB PTG versus ST BLE Sensor Classic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMPLAB PTGST BLE Sensor Classic
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings) — better1.3 (3 ratings)
Number of ratings13 — better
Update frequencyEvery 19 monthsEvery 6 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB71 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMicrochip Technology Inc.STMicroelectronics

Customer experience

MPLAB PTG

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ST BLE Sensor Classic

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

In-app purchases

None

MPLAB PTG

No in-app purchases

None

ST BLE Sensor Classic

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MPLAB PTG free?
MPLAB PTG is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ST BLE Sensor Classic free?
ST BLE Sensor Classic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MPLAB PTG or ST BLE Sensor Classic?
MPLAB PTG is rated higher. MPLAB PTG averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while ST BLE Sensor Classic averages 1.3 from 3 ratings.
Do MPLAB PTG or ST BLE Sensor Classic have ads?
Neither MPLAB PTG nor ST BLE Sensor Classic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MPLAB PTG or ST BLE Sensor Classic?
MPLAB PTG ships an update every 19 months, and ST BLE Sensor Classic every 6 months. Most recently, MPLAB PTG was updated on October 8, 2026 and ST BLE Sensor Classic on October 21, 2026.

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