# ESP32 vs BLE Controller

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BLE Controller at none against ESP32's 1. BLE Controller also leads on ratings volume (27 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). ESP32's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ESP32 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BLE Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

ESP32 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BLE Controller has 27 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ESP32 | BLE Controller |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esp32-cam/id6754187049/reviews)** | [4.7 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ble-controller-arduino-esp32/id6754522781/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **27** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 22 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peter Sauer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789152060) | [CircuitMagic Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1848639668) |

## What reviewers say

### ESP32

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/esp32-cam/id6754187049)

Control and manage ESP32-CAM devices with various camera modules. Stream live video, adjust image settings, and apply creative effects. Effortlessly discover and manage multiple cameras from a single interface.

**Highlights:** Smart network discovery, Live JPEG video streaming, Adjustable image quality and effects, LED flash control, Multi-device management, Save and organize camera configurations

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Support this project | $1.99 | one-time |


### BLE Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ble-controller-arduino-esp32/id6754522781)

This app enables wireless control of microcontrollers like Arduino and ESP32 via Bluetooth Low Energy. It features a customizable remote interface, a serial console for real-time data monitoring, and device management tools for makers and hobbyists.

**Highlights:** Customizable button interface, Real-time serial console, Device scanning and management, Bi-directional communication, Offline functionality, Dark and light themes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ESP32 free?

ESP32 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BLE Controller free?

BLE Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ESP32 or BLE Controller?

ESP32 is rated higher. ESP32 averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while BLE Controller averages 4.7 from 27 ratings.

### Do ESP32 or BLE Controller have ads?

Neither ESP32 nor BLE Controller shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ESP32 or BLE Controller?

ESP32 ships an update every 2 weeks, and BLE Controller every 2 weeks. Most recently, ESP32 was updated on October 30, 2026 and BLE Controller on November 5, 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.*