Comparison

Bluetooth Serial Connect vs MicroBlue

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

Head to head
About

Bluetooth Serial Connect

Control your Arduino projects with your phone. Design custom interfaces with buttons, joysticks, and displays to send and receive data via Bluetooth low-energy modules. An integrated library simplifies the connection process.

Highlights
  • Customizable control boards
  • Button and joystick inputs
  • Display integration
  • Bluetooth low-energy module support
  • Arduino library for easy integration
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a custom control panel for Arduino and BLE projects, without building a dedicated iOS app. Bluetooth Serial Connect lets you design a board, connect to an HM-10-style Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) UART module, and exchange commands and live readouts with your hardware. The companion Bluetooth Serial Connect Arduino library makes it straightforward to read controls and update displays, indicators, and gauges in your sketch. DESIGN YOUR BOARD Place, move, resize, and customize nine component types: • Buttons with momentary, latch, and repeat behavior • Joysticks, sliders, toggles, and D-pads • Text displays, labels, indicators, and gauges Assign channel numbers that stay fixed when you rearrange controls. Fine-tune colors, labels, value ranges, board appearance, and haptic feedback. Undo and redo changes, duplicate and lock controls, snap them to the grid, and adjust their front-to-back order. START WITH TEMPLATES AND EXAMPLES Explore seven editable board templates for RC cars, robotic arms, menu remotes, sensor hubs, smart-home relays, and more. Companion Arduino sketches and protocol examples help you connect the app to your code. Follow the interactive walkthrough or try a board with simulated data—no hardware required. Import, export, share, and duplicate boards as your projects grow. CONNECT AND TROUBLESHOOT Scan for nearby BLE devices, follow clear connection progress, remember frequently used modules for quick reconnecting, and configure service and characteristic UUIDs. Use the timestamped two-way console to inspect sent and received messages or send console text while you troubleshoot. Setup guides, wiring help, complete examples, and the wire protocol reference are available at bluetooth.henhen1227.com. Bluetooth Serial Connect is designed for HM-10-style BLE modules. Other BLE UART hardware may work when its service and characteristic UUIDs match the app settings. HC-05 and HC-06 Bluetooth Classic modules are not supported. A compatible BLE module is required for live hardware control. FREE OR PRO Start with one board free. Add more by watching rewarded ads, or unlock Bluetooth Serial Pro with a one-time in-app purchase for unlimited boards and no ads. The free version may also show occasional ads after edits. Existing boards remain available to use. No app account is required. Board files stay on your device unless you choose to share them.

About

MicroBlue

This app connects to microcontrollers via Bluetooth/BLE, offering a customizable interface for control and interaction. It supports various components like joysticks and buttons, streamlining hobbyist and professional projects.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth/BLE connectivity
  • Customizable control interface
  • D-pads, joysticks, buttons, sliders
  • Text input support
  • Works with Arduino and Raspberry Pi
  • Writable custom service communication
Features
Read full description

The ultimate companion app for your microcontroller projects! Whether you're a hobbyist or a professional, MicroBlue simplifies the way you interact with your microcontrollers through seamless Bluetooth/BLE connectivity. Connect effortlessly and explore the potential of your projects with an intuitive interface designed for customization. Customize your layout using a variety of components such as d-pads, joysticks, buttons, sliders, switches, and text inputs. Tailor the interface to suit your specific needs and project requirements. It has been verified to work with: - Arduino Uno R3 with HM10 - Arduino Uno R4 Minima with HM10 - Arduino Uno R4 Wifi - Raspberry Pi Pico with HM10 - Raspberry Pi Pico W - ESP32-S3 Starting from v1.1.1, the app communicates exclusively with the writable custom services of the connected devices. Empower your creativity and streamline your projects with MicroBlue. Take your microcontroller experience to the next level today! For assistance and more information, visit: https://snappyxo.io/microblue.

Screenshots

Bluetooth Serial Connect4 screens
MicroBlue4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MicroBlue at 4.5 against Bluetooth Serial Connect's 3.7. MicroBlue also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 10 months). Bluetooth Serial Connect's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 2). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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

MicroBlue holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bluetooth Serial Connect ships an update every 10 months, MicroBlue every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on July 21, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Bluetooth Serial Connect versus MicroBlue: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBluetooth Serial ConnectMicroBlue
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (7 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings7 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.213.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHenry AbrahamsenMechanismic Inc.

Customer experience

Bluetooth Serial Connect

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral28.6%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

MicroBlue

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Bluetooth Serial Connect

No in-app purchases

None

MicroBlue

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bluetooth Serial Connect free?
Bluetooth Serial Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MicroBlue free?
MicroBlue is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bluetooth Serial Connect or MicroBlue?
MicroBlue is rated higher. Bluetooth Serial Connect averages 3.7 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while MicroBlue averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Bluetooth Serial Connect or MicroBlue have ads?
Bluetooth Serial Connect shows ads; MicroBlue does not.
Which is updated more often, Bluetooth Serial Connect or MicroBlue?
Bluetooth Serial Connect ships an update every 10 months, and MicroBlue every 3 months. Most recently, Bluetooth Serial Connect was updated on July 21, 2026 and MicroBlue on July 6, 2026.

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